EARLY SENIOR ORGANIZATIONS

The Sixty-Plus Club met for the first time on September 6, 1949 with 25 members. The group met at the American Legion Hall and was organized by Recreation Director Dorothea Nelson. At the first meeting the new members learned to play canasta, “the new rummy craze.” Other activities included crafts and handwork, bingo, movies, card tournaments, folk and other dances, and picnics. By 1951 it had over 40 members, and in 1961 there were 55 members.

In 1951, Earl Ainsworth took on a project to write the history of St. Louis Park. He hired a young graduate student named Norman Thomas to write it, and convened a series of meetings with longtime residents to reminisce and provide material for the book. One of these events, attended by members of the Old Settlers' Club, took place in July 1951 at the Colonial Inn, with 50 in attendance.

Another event, an Early Settlers (indoor) picnic, took place on August 23, 1951 at the American Legion Hall.

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.