Fellowship is the main course

The annual Harvest Home Dinner to benefit the Beemerville Presbyterian Church has a rich history. From generations of oral history the congregants of the Beemerville Church believed the Harvest Home Dinner was started in 1907 because of a dated photograph of the occasion on the east lawn of the church. A history of the church was recently compiled for its 175th anniversary. Much to the surprise of the congregation, the 1900 Session minutes reflect the first mention of the Harvest Home, where they found that then-pastor Dixon said he would issue a letter to distant members who could not attend church services in the hope that many would come to the reunion at Harvest Home on August 9. Net gain was $260. Whether the first Harvest Home Dinner was in 1900 or 1907, the purpose of the special dinner is still the same, a reunion to give thanks to God for the harvest. In the early years congregants would cook chickens, vegetables and pies in their own homes and bring the food to the church or community house. In 2008, the Beemerville Church served 450 dinners of glazed ham, corn on the cob, green beans, creamy scalloped potatoes, traditional secret recipe coleslaw and desert at the Beemerville Firehouse. The congregation donates, prepares and cooks the meal. While ham may be the entree, just like in the early 1900’s, fellowship is the main course. The 1890’s Session Minutes Annual Narrative holds the first mention of the Ladies Aid Society, which is still in existence in the Beemerville Church today. The Ladies Aid Society still presents the Fancy Table of home crafted items for sale at the dinner. — Submitted by Lori Day If you go When: Tuesday, July 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. Where: Beemerville Firehouse How much: Adults, $12; children, $6 Purchase at the door Beemerville Church: 973-875-6067