SYLACAUGA — Finally, it’s open.The Maxye Veazey Senior Adult Activity Center was used for the first time Wednesday by the Friendship Club, which met to quilt in its own room.
The center has been a dream for the city and seniors for years. Work on the 6,700-square-foot building is basically complete, said Jim Armstrong, director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
The senior center is located at the J. Craig Smith Community Center.
“The parking area has not been constructed yet. We started programs there today with the quilting group. Another activity will be held there Thursday and Friday. We have not gotten all our programs in place yet and are planning some more activities for the future,” Armstrong said Wednesday.
Nadene Burdett, Lois Nelson and Kattie Hocutt enjoyed their first day quilting in their own room in the new center.
“This is our first day to quilt here,” Burdett said. “I’m just glad to be able to quilt in our own room. We were in a room with painters where everything else was.”
Most of the senior activities were held in an activity room at J. Craig Smith.
The Friendship Club meets every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to quilt. They quilt for others as well as for the group. They sell chances on the quilts they make, and the money raised is used for various activities by the group.
The club has between 25 and 30 members.
Nelson started in the club in October 1989, Hocutt in 2000 and Burdett five years ago.
The three said they love the quilting class.
“We have food, fellowship and fun, “Hocutt said.
Each member brings a dish of food for lunch on Wednesdays.
The senior center has been something Sylacauga has worked on for years.
The city received a $250,000 grant in 2003 from the Department of Economic and Community Affairs to build the center and health clinic. Plans for the health clinic were dropped in 2005 due to lack of federal funding for clinic operations.
The cost for Kilgore Construction of Anniston to build the center was $624,707.
The center is named after the late Maxye Veazey. She started work with the Sylacauga Parks and Recreation Department in October 1946 as a part-time worker. She was hired full time in April 1947, retiring in 1978. She died in April 1994.
The center has three multi-purpose rooms, an assembly area with kitchenette, a small exercise room, a room for ceramics and more.
There is a reception/desk area, a living room and library, where seniors can watch television or read.
Sherry Vickers, senior director, said there is still a lot to do before an open house can be held at the center.
“But we have started living in it now. We will be in the process of moving in for a couple of weeks,” she said.
She encouraged the public to drop in and see the new building.
“If you would like to be a part of the moving and decoration process, volunteers are always welcome,” Vickers said.
The Maxye Veazey Center will be open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays.
For more information on the center, call 256-249-2346.
