10407 Merrill Rd
Hamburg, MI - 48139
10407 Merrill Rd
Hamburg, MI - 48139
A group of women, known as the Hamburg Pals, began holding weekly pot lucks at the Hamburg Township Library under the leadership of Mrs. Patricia Waters, Librarian and her assistants. Because of the large population of retired people who live in Hamburg Township, the Hamburg Pals and group of community leaders saw the need for a Senior Center - a place large enough that men could also enjoy the benefits of the fellowship that the Hamburg Pals enjoyed with each other. Thus, the Hamburg Independent Seniors (H.I.S.) group was formed to work toward that end. With sponsorship of the Hamburg Township Board and the Pinckney Community School Board, H.I.S. reached an agreement with the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency to develop a nutrition site in two rooms of Hamburg Elementary School. The site opened in January of 1984. Many of the furnishings were provided by Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency (O.L.H.S.A.) and items were donated by individuals or organizations wishing to give the new enterprise a helping hand. The Hamburg Independent Seniors continued to gather and socialize at the school until 1987 when they were notified that due to the increase in numbers of children in the area, the rooms the Seniors had been utilizing would have to be converted to classrooms. In June of that year the Senior group began meeting at the Hamburg VFW Post 1224. It was at this time that the group began discussing a plan to construct a Senior Center. H.I.S approached Hamburg Township for help in their venture. Hamburg Township approved of the plan and continued to work with the Seniors to make a Senior Community Center a reality. The Township made the land available and agreed to place a millage on the ballot as a means to fund the construction. Through the tireless efforts of the H.I.S. members, the millage was approved and construction began in August 1989. On May 19, 1990 the building was opened for business. We are proud of the volunteer involvement at the Center over the years that has brought us to where we are today and allowed us to continue to grow and expand to meet the needs of this growing community. The Senior Advisory Board ensures that Senior participants will continue to have a voice in governance of the Center. Our goal is that area seniors will always have a place where they can come together in friendship for activities that they enjoy, services and information that they need, and classes and volunteer work that they find stimulating.
I have been enjoying the center for 25 years. My mother was a Hamburg Pal and one of the original members. I started helping her come to the center to play bingo.