By: Stephen McCollum

The last Wednesday of the month is party time at the Blackford County Senior Center. These collective birthday gatherings feature food, games, music and dancing, and just good old camaraderie. About 35-40 seniors attended the first monthly birthday party of 2020.

“There’s a lot of collective wisdom around here,” said Deb Cole, Director since 2018. She also notes there is a lot of humor dispensed, much of it grounded in a lifetime of living and learning.

“I’m done growing,” said Linda Cox. “I’m not going to grow up!”

“We don’t act our age,” said Don Fisher, with a wry grin. Ask him where he’s from. “Notsag,” he deadpans. What? “Thats Gaston spelled backwards.”

Martha Monroe, who accompanied her late husband, Robert, during a military career that took them to Spain, Germany, and France, before retirement at Fort Hood, TX, moved back to Hartford City in 1985. She got started at the Senior Center by accepting an invitation to come play euchre, and now comes as frequently as possible.

In addition to the meal of tacos with all the fixings, a clear favorite for this birthday party day is the appearance of the “Sweet Sounds” music combo, featuring Ed Blevins on guitar, Larry Wright on percussion, Lynette Wright on percussion and lead vocals, and Jeff Leist, the doo-wop harmonizing specialist. They have been to the Senior Center multiple times and always draw a good crowd.

Casual conversation around the tables can turn up surprising and intricate stories that illustrate the range of life experience that Director Cole admires and that makes her job interesting.

Billy Stroud, decked out in bib overalls, probably from his part-time farming years, spent two years in the Army, then worked at the old Sneath Glass Company, which moved to Hartford City during the Indiana Gas Boom in the early 20th century. After that, Stroud worked almost 20 years at Ball Corporation where he was a computer keypunch card operator. He’s also put in time as a courier, and counts among his avocational skills coon hunting. 

Like any worthy enterprise, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes effort to keep the food flowing and the music humming. Cole has to shop for and cook the food, pay the taxes, and write grants to secure funding—the center had about $35,000 in expenses in 2019, even though till now, thankfully, it has been able to occupy the old I&M Building on Mill Street rent free. But that’s under threat because if the City doesn’t take over occupancy, I&M plans to demolish it. And if the City does save it, the Senior Center will have to add utility bills to its accounts payable ledger.

The Senior Center is grateful to have the support of many community businesses and agencies, both financially and through volunteer participation. That’s how it managed to host more than 19,000 visits and serve more than 9,000 meals last year.

Seniors can benefit from educational programs as well as entertainment. There are speakers in regularly on a variety of topics, health screenings, exercise classes, and games galore. In addition to the spacious dining section, the Center also has a combined living room/library for gathering.

Visit the Senior Center at 101 S. Mill Street from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call (765) 348-4141 for more information.