Senior Center celebrates 50 years

Whatcom County dedicated building’s renovation in 1973

By Elisa Claassen

For the Tribune

EVERSON — As reported in a Nov. 9, 1973, press release, Whatcom County officially opened a newly renovated activity center in Everson City Hall at dedication ceremonies overseen by County Commissioner C.J. Johnson.

According to documents found in a scrapbook for the seniors, the group may have started meeting in 1971 but was not formally recognized until 1973.

In 1973, Ken Hertz was Whatcom County Parks director. He noted in the release that the facility is the first senior center to be improved under the County Park Board’s Senior Citizen Center Program.

Costs of the renovation were met with funds from the previous parks bond issue, revenue sharing funds from the County Commissioners –under the previous governance system – and gen-

The cover of a program from the 1973 opening ceremony for the Everson Senior Center shows the remodeling done at the time. Agreements were also made to ensure a place for the seniors to go on a twice-a-week basis for at least 25 years. (Courtesy of Everson Senior Center) eral fund money from the city of Everson. Burglar Construction of Ferndale was the general contractor on the $23,600 project. The architect was Henry Klein & Associates of Mount Vernon.

In the dedication program, Rev. David Mann of Everson Presbyterian Church gave the invocation, followed by a welcome by William J. Dittrich of the Whatcom County Park Board, William “Bill” Fritzberg of the Everson Senior Citizens group, and a benediction by Rev. Bud Davis.

Under the agreement in 1973, senior citizens would be able to use a portion of City Hall for at least two days a week for the next 25 years.

Similar agreements, according to the release, were being negotiated with Lynden, Blaine and Ferndale for senior facilities.

A November 1973 Lynden Tribune story reported that flu shots were available. Reports also include a monthly potluck, and an 18-member band. A guest, Mike Spellman, spoke to the group about the Puget Power and Light plant in Skagit County.

A January 1977 Lynden Tribune story reported that early senior attendees included Gerrit VanWeerdhuizen, Ellen Sealund, Irene Sprague, Leona Fecher, Jim Eckler, Ella Westergreen, Lulu

VanderYacht, Alice Nation, Alma Ostrum and Evelyn Fritzberg. Activities at the time were listed as learning macramé, potlucks, valentine crafts, playing pool, Bible study, bingo, and a talk about windows and veterans’ pensions.

Other than during and since the COVID–19 pandemic, the center still hosts seniors but now hosts morning activities and lunches on Mondays, according to Sherryl Hazenberg, the center’s only employee.

Everson is one of eight senior centers within the Whatcom County Parks and Recreation system now.

According to the Whatcom County Parks website, whatcomcounty.us, the center is for anyone 50 or older for good company and activities, such as Wii bowling, puzzles, pool, cards, or just plain good conversation.

Hours are 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Mondays. Meal pick-up is from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Frozen and hot meal options are available.

On-site hot meals are served at noon in coordination with the Parks Department and Whatcom County Council on Aging.

Hazenberg said she is looking for community members to provide photos and memories of the past 50 years in anticipation of an open house later in the year.

The Everson Senior Center maintains a scrapbook of its 50-year history. This includes old news clips of when Everson seniors would meet for potlucks before the current facility was available. (Courtesy of Everson Senior Center)