The staff of the Northampton Senior Center are working hard to prepare a temporary location after a cracked wall and a bent support truss were discovered last week, forcing the building's closure.

More than 150 seniors use the Northampton Senior Center every day, according to the city's Council on Aging. But, once city officials closed the doors to the center on Friday, those seniors were left with no place to play games or exercise.

Now, the Center's staff is working feverishly to open a temporary home in the old senior center.

"We've been returning literally hundreds of phone calls to people since last Friday, so people would be in touch with what we're doing," said Patricia Shaughnessy, Senior Center and Council on Aging director.

Shaughnessy and her staff never thought they would be setting up shop in what was once the "old" Northampton Senior Center - a first floor space inside Memorial Hall at 240 Main Street.

After workers found a crack in a wall, and a bent support truss last week, the "new" senior center at 67 Conz Street had to be closed due to fears that the structure was unstable. A few blocks away on Main Street, Shaughnessy is trying to get the temporary quarters up and running as quickly as possible.

"On Wednesday, you'll see exercise classes beginning again, the ballroom dancing, enhanced fitness... Many things will begin Wednesday," Shaughnessy said.

Contractors and crews spent the day fixing the problem in the Conz Street building's cupola. The new senior center has barely been open a year. It was on the eve of the building's anniversary party that the Center was unexpectedly shut down.

Northampton Mayor Clare Higgins said she was expecting to meet with the city's building inspector and contractors Monday to set a time-line for the re-opening of the building.

"We're being extra cautious because, obviously people are in the building. But, I don't think it's going to be a long-term problem at all," Higgins said.

Meanwhile, Shaughnessy is not taking any chances, as she cautiously prepares for an extended stay in Memorial Hall.

"I don't have any definitive time when we can get back in there, so we're planning on being here temporarily for a few weeks," Shaughnessy said.

Mayor Higgins said the city is not at fault, and taxpayers will not foot the bill for the repairs. In addition to the Memorial Hall location, Shaughnessy said some activities, including exercise programs will being held at the World War 2 Club on Conz Street.

For more information, leave a message with the Northampton Council on Aging: (413) 587-1228.