Adult Community Center celebrates 35 years of relationships
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MARSHALL -- For 35 years, it's been a hub of activity -- whether that meant attending an informational talk, meeting for group exercise, or learning new computer skills.
But there was one more unspoken thing about the Adult Community Center that was the most important, said former ACC coordinator Barb Lipinksi.
"It's the thread that makes this place the place it is -- relationships," Lipinski said.
The way that the ACC has been a place to build relationships was something worth celebrating, she said.
"Congratulations on 35 years," Lipinski told an audience of Marshall area community members, during anniversary celebrations for the ACC.
On Friday, the ACC held a day of events commemorating the center's opening in October 1988. Area community members pitched in to make the day special -- Darwin Dyce and Lee Kanten performed a song written for the ACC's anniversary, Lutheran Social Services prepared a lunch, and Marshall Police officers helped serve up cake and refreshments. A program also brought together speakers like Lipinski, and representatives from the city of Marshall and the Marshall Area Senior Citizens (MASC) organization.
Current ACC coordinator Katie Brusven said volunteers from the Marshall area community have played a huge role in the success of the center.
"Over the years, we've had a number of volunteers who have helped make the Adult Community Center what it is today," Brusven said. "We couldn't do it without you."
Speakers at Friday's program said community volunteers have been crucial to the ACC, going back before the facility was ever built.
"I truly believe it began in 1966," Lipinski said. That was when a couple of ladies organized efforts to reach out to the elderly in Marshall. She said the ACC was really born "from that core of care and concern."
At first, Marshall's senior group met in the basement of the city library at the corner of Third and Lyon streets. Lipinski said there used to be an active group of pool players and quilters who would meet at the library.
"Those conversations had to have been interesting," Lipinski said.
Later, the senior meeting place moved to the basement of Marshall's city hall building on Main Street.
Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes reflected on the referendum vote that approved construction of the ACC. Byrnes said there was "an active group" of Marshall area senior citizens who spoke out in favor of building a senior center in Marshall. The question ended up being put on the ballot for a city referendum.
Voters were asked to weigh in on three different projects in that referendum, Byrnes said. In addition to the senior center, there were questions on whether the city should make repairs to the municipal swimming pool, and whether to complete the development of what would become Independence Park.
"That vote was put to the public, and the pool and the Senior Center (questions) passed," Byrnes said.
The construction bid that was approved for the ACC's construction was for about $428,000, Byrnes said. At the time, that cost was about the same as what the city paid to get a new fire truck for the Marshall Fire Department, he said.
Lipinski said over the past 35 years, the ACC has offered a lot of different benefits to area community members. Many people know the ACC as a place to play games like cards or mahjong, she said.
"We do play a lot of games," Lipinski said, but they had benefits on a couple of different levels. "It's the fun of playing … but it's also very good for our minds."
The ACC has also offered educational and health programs, and has built up connections between area seniors and the community, Lipinski said. Marshall area seniors have performed together with the Marshall Middle School choir, and performed plays together with grade school students. They have also volunteered in the community.
"You are a group that is hard to follow. You know the true spirit of volunteering," Lipinski told seniors gathered at the anniversary celebration.
Area seniors were sharing memories and socializing Friday afternoon at the ACC. Bonnie Davis brought her neighbors Bev and Marlin Winkelman over to a display of photos and scrapbook pages from the ACC's history. Davis was able to point out her own parents in some of the photos.
Bob VanLeeuwe was among the people who stopped to reminisce with Lipinski.
"We had fun playing cards together," VanLeeuwe said. Lipinski said Bob was always a challenging opponent.
Joyce Greeley, a member of the MASC board, said that the atmosphere of friendship at the ACC is one of the things that makes it special, and is something that MASC always tries to continue.
"You feel that you're welcome," Greeley said.