In October 1968, federal funding under the Older American Act enabled the community to have “exploratory senior services.” A borrowed barracks building on Gates Avenue gave the group a place to welcome and meet the seniors of Kingman. It had been previously deserted and Kathryn Heidenreich spent much of her own time fixing it up and making it a nice meeting place. It was then operated by the Community Action Agency, with Kathryn serving as Director and Sadie Pearl Duncan serving as Executive Director.

Three years later in 1971, their federal funding ran out. Without the help of those funds, the center remained open only two days each week for over a year. Mrs. Heidenreich remained Director, and she now had the help of several volunteers.

In the spring of 1972, the building was sold and the center was forced to find a new home. A building committee was formed to obtain a new site. Mohave County gave the land where the current center stands for $1.00 a year and also contributed $2,000.00 towards construction costs. The City of Kingman matched the amount with another donation of $2,000. Many more donations of services, materials, and money made our present site a reality. In December of 1972, the Kingman Senior Center opened with the building completely paid for. They soon were able to keep regular center hours three days each week.

In 1973, the Board of Directors submitted a plan to the city asking for one full-time director and two part-time aides. In September of that year the plan was approved and Heidenreich herself was hired as Director by the center, and two aides were hired through Mohave County.

In April 1974, another room was added to the building, for the storage of supplies and a pool table for the gentlemen. Mohave County added a large covered patio to the building and paved the parking area in 1975. In later years, the Kiwanis Club had the patio enclosed and senior volunteers did the paneling work on the inside of the room themselves. This area then held a thrift store that generated funds to help keep the center operating.

During 1977, a building fund was started to raise money for the construction of a storage building. A detached building was created to help with growing needs of a busy center. Volunteers donated both time and materials, and the senior citizens, once again, laid the bricks.

The facility was re-named the Kathryn Heidenreich Adult Center in 1979 in honor of the woman who was instrumental in making the dream of a senior center become a reality.

An inheritance made it possible to remodel once again in 1992. Lettie Crocker donated funds that expanded the center from the original 2200 square feet to an 11,720 square foot building. In March of that year, a dedication was held naming a room in her honor. This room is used for many different activities and events.