|
|
In
1937 the need for a place for additional space became apparent,
and a social hall was needed. Haferman and Stark, a gravel construction
company comprised of all young members of the church, volunteered
the use of their equipment and help if the men of the congregation
would assist. A drag line or belt was put through a window to
remove the earth from under the church. The men worked under the
church using shovels and wheelbarrows to load it onto a belt.
It was hard work, but a labor of love. The work was done bit by
bit as time allowed.
The
new basement addition became a place where the women’s society
could meet, showers could be had, youth parties could be held,
and where formal receptions and lunches could be served. The first
undertaking to help pay for the addition came when the ladies
sponsored chicken dinners. The chicken and dressing and pies were
made at home and brought to the basement to be served publicly.
The date was set just before Thanksgiving so people would be finished
with hand husking corn.
A
few years later the church prepared for another dinner when “
old man winter” arrived with a bang. Snow fell, wind raged,
and roads were closed. The chickens were all roasted, dressing
was made, and pies were still warm from the oven, but no one can
get to the church. The phone rang, “Stay Home!” no
church dinner for this year.
The
next year the date was changed to the later part of October to
avoid a repeat of the previous year’s cancellation. For
a change of pace, turkeys were purchased instead of chickens.
The turkeys were delivered to the Shakopee bakery for roasting
and were delivered to the church the day of the dinner along with
the turkey scraps that were ground up for dressing. The night
before, potatoes were delivered in hundred pound bags to be peeled
and put in large milk cans of cold water, relishes were prepared,
large kettles were brought in, and a large twenty gallon Red Wing
jar came to hold hot water to keep the mashed potatoes hot. Man
as well as women worked setting up tables and chairs. The next
morning, the ladies of the church arrived at 9:00 AM to prepare
all the dishes and worked tell about 1:00 PM. They then went home
to prepare their pies and returned at about 3:00 PM with their
pies. Dining started at about 4:15 PM and many people came from
miles around to enjoy the fellowship and the good food.
The
first year menu was: roast turkey, mashed potatoes, buttered corn,
dressing, gravy, cranberries, coleslaw, relishes, coffee and milk,
and apple, pumpkin, blueberry and cherry pies. All were served
family style. The menu continued like this for several years with
only minor changes.
Serving
lasted as long as any guests arrived. Leftovers were sold. The
next day the ladies returned for cleanup. It was a good solid
three days of work, and everything went well until the bakery
informed the church that they would no longer roast turkeys or
make dressing. Although they gave the church their recipe for
dressing, roasting turkeys and making the dressing proved to be
too much for the group to handle, and the turkey dinners were
discontinued.
Although
all the church members helped out with dinners, the primary responsibility
for the dinners fell to the Ladies’ Aid. The Ladies’
Aid went by several names. Originally they were called the Frau
and Fri when most members were all german speakers and the meetings
were held during the day in the ladies’ homes. Later the
name changed to WSCS and meetings continue to this day, but since
most work outside the home, the meetings are now at night. The
name of the ladies group has now been changed to the United Methodist
Women.
The
first dinner was held to pay for the church addition, but subsequent
dinners raised funds for other purpose. Some of the funds were
used to pay for items such as a new vacuum cleaner, gifts for
graduates, church mission projects, local charities, additional
tables for serving lunch is after funerals, and many other items.
When
the turkey dinners ceased, a silent auction took its place. The
women’s group has been an integral part of the church for
many years.
Today
in church the United Methodist Women are a big part in Lydia.
They have many special events planned throughout the year including:
silent auctions, breakfasts, country stores, fundraisers, and
of course Turkey Dinners. |
|
