History:

The first home of MCSAA was at the corner of 2nd and Cota Streets. Julie Richert acted as Administrator for the two or three years prior to 1981.

Marge Emsley-Brown became our first official Director in 1981 while still at the 2nd and Cotta address. She remained Director until 1989. In 1985, the center moved to the old Shelton Armory, now the S.O.C.K building. Brown was very involved in directing MCSAAs development. Brown and Lou Redmond were instrumental in the process of MCSAA becoming a non-profit incorporated entity. Brown resides in Shelton with her husband, Ern.

Fund raising began in earnest in 1988. The Skookum Rotary Club assisted the money raising efforts. T-shirts and buttons were sold, many breakfasts were also served. These and other efforts netted approximately $250,000.

In 1988, the center relocated to the second floor of the brick building at the corner of 7th and Franklin Streets, which was the Faith Lutheran Church. Pat Babnick started her 7 plus years as Director in 1989 at this site.

The original intent for the funds raised was to build a new center. However when the Sears vacated its facility on Railroad at 9th, the center again relocated. The original intent for the fundraising was to build a new facility, instead, MCSAA bought the building at Railroad and 9th and the vacant lot on Franklin at 7th Street. The mortgage was paid off in August 1996.

Our third Director, Cheryl McCoy, began her tenure in 1996 and continued until Karen Popke took over in 1997. Karen lives in Hoodsport.

Nifty Thrifty Store, which enables the Senior Center to provide the multiple services we all enjoy, began as a monthly "white elephant sale" in the same building it occupies today (2006). At that time it was only using half of the area it now uses for $200/month rent. After cleaning and enlarging, it has been a thrift store for 18 years. There have been two previous managers at the store: Doris Olsen; and Pat Dover.