The floors of the 100-year-old Pleasant Point Senior Center in the Owens Community were literally falling through to the ground.

The danger to anyone entering the ramshackle building called for concerted action. The combined efforts of legislators and the Limestone County Commission brought the matter to the attention of Gov. Bob Riley.

The governor signed the check for a new senior center and Thursday he came to the Owens community to break ground for the new center, the 27th new senior center throughout the state since he took office.

“Tom Brokaw was right when he said this is the greatest generation,” said Riley in paying tribute to those who will use the center. “They left a legacy that the rest of us try to keep up with. “

Riley said that the center would have an emergency generator in case an ice storm or other bad weather knocks out power to area homes. “They can come here for a hot meal as a place to take care of all seniors,” he said.

Riley paid tribute to his state Senior Services Director Irene Collins, whom he called the “best (Senior Services director) the state has ever had.”

Collins, who also was on hand for the groundbreaking, said Riley’s administration came into office with the goal of building 13 new senior centers, “And now we’re about to build our 27th,” said Collins. “Our great legislators secured the money for us to do this and to the great staff at TARCOG, thank-you for all the things you do every day to make sure the needs of our senior citizens are taken care of.”

Collins also thanked Silver Haired Legislators and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program for its assistance with programs for the aged. “Something you prayed for is finally going to happen.”

The two state officials headed a program in which several state and local officials took part, each giving credit to a bipartisan effort that secured funding for the new center. “We have Republicans and we have Democrats, but to a man, we all support Limestone County,” said County Commission Chairman David Seibert. “We’re still going to keep coming to the state and asking for money. It’s what we do best.”

Riley recognized Rep. Tommy Carter, D-Elkmont, state Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, and Rep. Mickey Hammon, R-Decatur, as “three people who have made a tremendous difference with how we operate in Montgomery.

Butler returned the compliment by thanking the governor for “the teamwork you’ve displayed in working with all the delegation.”

Wanda Kirk of the Owens community, a long-time worker at the former center, said the building to be replaced was built in 1905. “The walls and floors were separating, the floors were sinking and the floor at the one end completely fell through,” she said. Participants said that 96-year-old Mary Davis is the oldest senior who uses the center.

Hammon described the time he was approached by Commissioner Bill Daws about getting funding for a new center.

“The building was small and out of date, but the seniors didn’t want much,” said Hammon. They just wanted a place to meet, nothing large. The governor is especially in tune with seniors’ needs and found the money to build a bigger center. “

Daws thanked the property owner from whom they purchased the site for the new center.

“Geneva Jackson sold us the property and it would be hard to find a tract of land more beautiful than this,” said Daws. “All of the elected officials came together as one and that’s how to get things done.”

Carter said his only regret is that “we didn’t get started on this two years sooner.”

Newly retired Athens Senior Center director Helen Carter, who was in office when the effort to build the senior center began, said local legislators were always receptive to requests for the county.

“Their doors were always open,” said Ms. Carter. “We never got turned down. Maybe they couldn’t give us everything we asked for but they always listened to us.”