“Happy birthday Oak Park!” shouted Regina Lawler, 91, into the microphone set up in the first-floor community room. Lawler is Oak Park’s original resident in downtown Lewiston.

Feb. 5 marked the 30th anniversary of the retirement community, and its residents turned out to fete three of the original members of their community.

Lawler was the first to move in to the four-story apartment building.

The last two of her 14 kids were in college and engaged, and she discovered the then new building while waiting for a ride from her son after shopping.

On the spot she decided she wanted to give up her house and big porch in Auburn.

“I had a choice of 91 apartments,” said the nonagenarian.

She chose apartment 102, on the corner of Oak and Park streets.

“The sun was shining right in there. The living room was slightly larger. The bedroom was smaller, but how much room do you need to sleep?”

She says that not much has changed in her 30 years living in apartment 102, and the one thing she misses is The Barn, a restaurant that was across the street in what is now Chopsticks.

“They had the best baked stuffed shrimp. It was my favorite.”

Georgette Bolduc was not as eager as Lawler to move into Oak Park. She was 53 and too sick to live on her own.

“When I moved in here, I didn’t like it too much because I was young and didn’t think I should be here,” said the home-bound Bolduc, now 83.

But over the years, she came to enjoy the activities and people in the building.

When Oak Park started a band, The Acorns, she joined and played the musical spoons. She loved to dance and sing “Has Anybody Seen My Gal?”

“Five foot two, eyes of blue, cootchie-cootchie-cootchie coo! That was my song,” said Bolduc with shining blue eyes.

Now she has a doll collection in apartment 423, and loves that she can call the office if she needs anything.

And she adores her friend, John Zimbis, the third original resident of Oak Park.

“John is the nicest guy. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask,” said Bolduc as she slipped her arm into the crook of Zimbis’.

Zimbis was only 25 when he moved into Oak Park with his mother. After she died in August 1980, he stayed on in apartment 312.

“Everybody has been good to us,” said Zimbis of the staff and residents. “There were 13 original and now there are three. Not too much has changed. It’s quieter now that they’ve closed down the Blue Elephant.”

And he really likes the underground garage where he parks his car.

The only thing he misses is the department store across the street.

“I used to go to McCrory’s all the time for breakfast and shopping. I miss that.”

All in all, none of the original residents would change their living arrangements. They all say everyone is nice and helpful, and they know how lucky they have it.

“Everyone is dying to move in here,” said Lawler with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “We have a five-year waiting list, you know!”