Stephenville’s Senior Citizens Center to host one last celebration before closing its doors for final time.

The Stephenville Senior Citizens Center, located at 164 E. College Street, will close permanently on Friday. A new facility is slated to open Jan. 13.

By SARA VANDEN BERGE

It’s been a long time coming.

Stephenville’s Senior Citizens Center will close its doors for the final time on Friday after it hosts one last celebration at its College Street location.

“We have a little reception planned and will hopefully leave a lot of laughter left behind when we lock her up for the last time,” recreation aide Wendy Raffin told Beneath the Surface News.

The center has been a place for Stephenville’s senior population to gather since the 1970s.

The old building is being replaced with a new $1.7 million, 7,200 square-foot facility opening at Stephenville City Park on Jan. 13.

It will include a catering kitchen, office and reception area, classroom and 2,600 square feet of event space that can be rented on the evenings and weekends.

There will also be a lounge where people can play cards, games and watch television.

Friday’s goodbye celebration will begin at 11:30 a.m. with snacks, desserts, door prizes and memorabilia.

“We have three nonagenarians (people in their 90s) coming for their last time; one was the first yoga student at the center decades ago,” Wendy said.

“We have lots of people that have so many memories here and we want to take a trip down memory lane one last time.”

A rendering of Stephenville's new senior citizens center opening at City Park in January 2025.

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