Back when soda was five cents a can, main street was full of life and people enjoyed spending their time at the local race track in the small town of Dracut. These are just some of the stories residents at The Arbors at Dracut love to reminisce on. While the town of Dracut may look different, the people are still the same. And since opening in June 2017, The Arbors at Dracut has been creating new memories along with way. There isn’t a shortage of residents (or staff members) who aren’t willing to talk about the “good ol’ days” of what Dracut used to be. The town of Dracut is very family-oriented and has been open and receptive since The Arbors at Dracut has opened its doors. “From the state representatives, to the town manager – everyone has been very welcoming to us. When people hear we’re a family-owned company I think it helps them see us as a partner, not just a giant corporation who moved into town,” says Jonathan Athenas, Executive Director at The Arbors at Dracut. It’s also nice for the residents to have a local memory care and assisted living option. There aren’t many to choose from in the area and having The Arbors at Dracut local gives residents the chance to stay connected to their town and families. One resident is a local retired veteran and well known by the police and fire department. “Anytime an inspection happens, they’re always asking how Nick is doing. They care about him even though he no longer works with these guys, he really left an impact on this town,” says Jonathan. Two other residents also had a past in common, while one of them, Carole didn’t even know about it. Carole was eating lunch one day and was greeted with a “Well, Hello Carole!” Unsure of who he was, she smiled and said “Hello, how do you know my name?” Bill He replied with “I installed your floor 45 years ago in your house.” After sitting down for lunch together, they also found out their daughters went to school together and chatted about how the town of “Dracut used to be.” Bill said, “Before moving here (The Arbors at Dracut Assisted Living) I lived only 100 feet away. I’ve seen this town change quit a bit. This very building used to be a race track and it was “the place to be” when we were younger. There has been a lot of changes on this piece of ground,” Carole also recalls what main street of Dracut used to be like. “I worked at the market and spent a lot of my time walking up and down the little shops. My friends and I would drive up and down main street, stop for ice cream and hang by the gas station.” Residents are creating new stories every day, while remembering the good times of what Dracut used to be. While the buildings have changed, the people haven’t. The town of Dracut is booming once again, just with a little different view.
Memories of “the good ol’ days”
