Wow — It’s Been 40 Years!

The Mid County Senior Center Club House Celebrates a Milestone

To celebrate this occasion, there will be an Open House on Saturday, March 29 from 1:00 to 3:30. If you are not familiar with the Center, this will be your chance to see what goes on in that large Senior Clubhouse at 829 Bay Avenue in Capitola (behind the Woodworm Party Store).

President Jim Bowman and Event Chairperson Wanda Sieggers promise that there will be music, entertainment, refreshments and exhibits of the many activities that take place in the two spacious rooms and the extensive garden plots.

The history of this truly remarkable organization will be laid out in the Archive scrapbooks that go back to the years before the clubhouse was built in its present location.

Seven years before this clubhouse was built, Father Brice Morgan of Capitola’s Saint Joseph’s Church saw the need for a community center for seniors. He obtained a personal loan to finance the opening of a Senior Center in the Parish Hall of the church at the corner of Bay and Capitola Avenues. The loan was repaid in one year by the 217 seniors, who had joined for $1 a year.

In 1970, the membership faced the loss of its home because of the sale of St. Joseph’s Church. The members realized that they had no choice but to build their own center. A flurry of fundraisers and many generous donations brought in enough money to purchase two acres of land on Bay Avenue in Capitola. In 1973, the Center received a federal grant thanks to the efforts of Bill Fernandes, and things moved very fast from that point on.

By 1974, the organization was in this new building, just two years after they learned they would have to move, Membership stood at 1,200 with 24 activities listed, and money in the bank.

The Grand Opening ceremonies for the present clubhouse were held on Sunday, February 10, 1974 with dancing on the spacious dance floor to the music of The Harry Watson Band, speeches by local dignitaries and lots of food. President Terry George stated, “We worked like dogs to get this place!” And, they certainly had. We all owe a lot to that intrepid group of senior members.

Today, the Mid County Senior Center is still a member-owned non-profit, non-political and non-sectarian center with 470 current members whose ages range from 50 to 100. The organization is self-supporting and does not receive funding from local, state or federal governments.

Each week the Center is used by hundreds of people, including members and non-members who participate in activities, events, classes, meetings and gardening.

You are all invited to come and learn about all these events and activities for yourself during the Open House or come in any weekday and check it out with one of our receptionists.

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629 Bay Avenue, Capitola (831) 478-4711