In the early 20th century, life for older people looked much different than it does today. Churches, granges, clubs, and associations did what they could to provide community, food, and support for elders. Vermont’s controversial system of poor farms took the most difficult cases to care for, including those without family support or wealth. Access to health care and services was more difficult for many people. By the 1960s the nuclear family became the most common form of family structure in the US, leaving more older adults vulnerable to the ills of social isolation and hunger.
The Older Americans Act was passed by Congress in 1965, laying the groundwork for communities to help older adults age well, with dignity, within their own homes. It was the first federal initiative aimed at providing comprehensive services for seniors.
In 1972, the Senior Nutrition Program was added to the OAA. From the wake of these new guidelines and funding sources, a community nonprofit called White River Council on Aging was incorporated in 1976 to help meet the needs of older people in the area. Services were centralized from different locations around town to the Greater Hartford Village United Church, with a satellite location at the Little Theater in Woodstock.
The 1970s also coincided with a big decision facing the Town of Hartford: what to do with the bequest left by a local dentist named T.D. Bugbee, who stipulated that the funds should be used to construct the building that the town needed the most.
After years of debate, contentions, and discussions, the question was finally settled in 1978. Hartford would build a senior center. Two years later, the T.D. Bugbee Building was inaugurated, becoming Hartford’s brand new senior center and the new home for White River Council on Aging. Thanks to the effort and determination from a passionate and dedicated group of citizens, Bugbee would become a community focal point for older adults.
Thank you for making the first 50 a blast.
Let’s kick off the next 50 together!
