Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Seniors stay busy with CADC trips

The Central Arkansas Development Council/Gurdon Senior Adult Center is constantly on the move.

Recently Royce Ann Barbaree, center director, took a van full of seniors to El Dorado to the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources.

"It sounds kind of boring, but it was nothing of the sort. I have passed by the museum a dozen times before and never thought it to be interesting.

"Not the case now at all. I would encourage anyone traveling in that direction to take the time and stop by the museum," said Barbaree.

The museum doesn't just take you to the Earth's core and explain how El Dorado and Smackover became a "boomtown" for oil, it has statues, and many interesting artifacts from the early days of the area.

"It's not all about oil. They have a beautiful carriage in the museum that belonged to a lady who was part of a circus. As the circus entourage was traveling through the natural state, the civil war broke out and they were unable to leave. Therefore, she and her husband lived in their carriage.

"It was my understanding that he was jealous of her and would only let her leave the carriage at night. She would then prance around in the dark in a white gown and everyone would think she was a ghost or something.

"She also had thousands of goats, which she taught to sing," said Barbaree, "It was a very interesting tale and the actual carriage is beautiful."

Seniors who participated on the trip said they were looking forward to another one soon.

"I took them to Ryan's in El Dorado and we all had a great time eating lunch. I love being with them, they are so much fun," said Barbaree.

The next adventure is planned for May 26, when the group will travel to Little Rock to see "Father of the Bride" performed at Murray's Dinner Playhouse.

"I can't wait. It is going to be so much fun.

"I encourage anyone who is interested to come and go with us. We are taking vans so the seniors won't have to use their gas, their car and they just get chauffered around like they deserve. You can't beat that," said Barbaree.

There is always something to do at the center to keep everyone involved.

"I want to get more people involved with the center. I want to see all of our chairs full each day for lunch and I would love to fill all of our vans full when we take trips," said Barbaree.

Lunch is served each day at 11 a.m. Anyone is invited to attend and eat a wonderful lunch. A dollar donation is requested for each meal.