CULLMAN — BAILEYTON — Over the last year, the Baileyton Senior Center has grown from nonexistent to averaging more than 60 people per meeting.

Celebrating its one year anniversary with a packed house, the Baileyton Senior Center is looking forward to what this year will bring.

Janice Miller, the president of the center, said people just enjoy coming out there.

“We have dinner, play rook, cards and dominos,” she said. “Some people just sit and talk. We just have a good time.”

Baileyton Mayor Johnny Dyar is proud of the center and glad to see its growth, but knows the need a larger facility.

People come from Baileyton as well as neighboring towns Holly Pond and Fairview.

The small building is overflowing.

“We have had some days when we have had so many come, they see how many is here and leave,” Miller said.

Right now, the center is unable to grow because of space.

“Even if we wanted to grow, we can’t,” Dyar said.

The town is excited to unveil plans for a new building and already have secured $85,000 in funds and are hoping the other $83,000 still needed will roll in.

Plans call for a brick 100-foot by 60-foot wide building with handicap accessible restrooms, an office area, storage closet, spacious kitchen, large stage, three exits, nine windows and double front doors at the entrance. It will be located across from the town hall on Firestation Road.

“It’s going to be one of the nicest senior centers in the county,” Dyar said. “We are hoping for donations to pour in. We have just been blessed.”

Local senior come each week to socialize with old neighbors and to make new friends.

“He (Dyar) asked me if I would support this and I have,” Wanda Morris said. “I haven’t missed but one time and he called and asked where I was.”

Morris said she enjoys the time with friends.

“We have so much fun,” she said. “We have the time of our lives. We sing and dance and have fun.”

“We have good food,” said Dorothy Talley, 86 of Baileyton. “A lot of past time. It’s good for the soul.”

“We just enjoy all the friends and singing,” Walbollen Huddleston said.

Baileyton resident Ray Kent keeps the seniors entertained with music and singing.

“We are even going to name the stage after him when we build our new building,” Dyar said.

Miller said she doesn’t know why the center is doing so well, but is glad it is.

“This center was needed out here,” Miller said. “This may be the only time some of these seniors get out.”

“It’s good fellowship,” Harold Hyatt said. He has lived in Baileyton all his life and said this has allowed him to get out of his house.

“I never went to a senior center before, so it is nice to have it here,” Hyatt said.

“We all know each other and we just enjoy visiting and talking,” Miller said.

They serve a potluck lunch.

“Everybody brings a dish and ones that can’t, that’s OK,” she said. “We tell them to come anyway.”

“It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to this community,” Gene Sumner said.

“This is my partying place,” Tera Hadley said. “We don’t come cause we’re old, we come to party.”

Along with meeting once a week at the center, the seniors also took a a trip in the Fall to Amish Country in Tennessee. Dyar said it was a success, with more than 60 seniors enjoying the day.

“We took two bus loads and four cars,” he said. “They really enjoyed it.”

Dyar said he is planning another trip in the near future.

The center hosts fundraisers throughout the year for trips and other activities. Right now, the center is selling tickets for a designer puppy from Peggy Burden at Peggy’s Poodles. Tickets are $3 each and Burden will donate a puppy valued between $500-$1,500. The winner will have their choice of a male or female puppy, without breeding rights.

The center also hosts chili suppers to raise money for the center.

Dyar thanked the Cullman County Commission for their support and Buchanan Jackson at Cullman Economic Development for his continued support.



‰ Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.