By Lula Anderson
August is here and with it the feeling that summer is half over. When I was working in the boarding houses, we waited for August and the end to the big rush of July. The majority of people took their two week vacation in July, or those who waited, the last two weeks of August, leaving the first two weeks as a time to deep clean the messes we left when scurrying trying to accommodate all of our patrons. We got to have an extra day off so we could spend our hard earned tip money on new clothes and supplies for school. Napkins were folded in advance of the next big rush and set on the shelf along with the many tablecloths mangled (ironed by machine) to perfection. We had extra time at the pool as there were fewer guests using it. We had more time in the evening to socialize with our friends—---until the last two weeks preceding Labor Day and the Last Hurrah! Now, August is the time to appreciate the summer weather, and put winter problems on the back burner until September.
East Jewett UMC will be holding a pancake super on Tuesday, August 5 from 3 - 6:30 PM. It is a free will offering, with all proceeds going to the Albany City Rescue Mission. The Kaaterskill UMC will be holding their annual Peach Shortcake and Roast Beef Dinner on Tuesday, August 19th at the Tannersville Rescue Squad Building. Takeout only from 5 0 6:30 PM. On August 31 there will be a Joint service of the Mountain Top UMC Parishes at C D Lane Park in Maplecrest at 10 AM followed by pot luck picnic. Come join us!
The Jewett Fire Department will be holding their annual Brooks Chicken BBQ on August 16 with serving starting at 4:30. The menu included half chicken, baked potato, homemade cole slaw, an ear of Story's corn, dinner roll from Jim's in Prattsville and a Cosmic Brownie. The price hasn't gone up since last year. It's still $15 for a full dinner. If you want just the chicken half, that'll be $10. The Ashland Community Church will be hosting a bake sale with proceeds going to the repair of their belfry.
The annual service at the Mitchell Hollow Church will be on August 17 at 2 PM.
Deacon Peter is still in touch and is inviting all to attend the 16th annual Interfaith Panel discussion on Sunday Aug 24 at 4 PM at the Greenville Public Library. The topic is "How can gratitude change your life". This discussion is sponsored by the Greenville Area Interfaith Council and faith traditions are represented by Buddhist, Catholic, Jewish, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Light refreshments will be provided.
Lazy retirement wishes go to Ruth Forte from the Department of Aging.
Prayers for healing to Opal DeLong, Barbara Cooke and Greg Beckmann.
AS I REMEMBER IT
The gathering last week for storytelling at the Westkill Church made me think how the local churches used to be a social gathering place for friends and families. Each family had its own pew (or pews) . Mother would go in first, followed by the kids, then father would sit on the other end. If there were more kids, the older children would sit in the pew behind and make sure all behaved during services. There would be Sunday School classes, and Vacation Bible School during the summer where the little ones would learn Bible passages, make appropriate crafts and have a grand old time with friends. The women would meet up over coffee and cake and plan what they would do to make money to support the church. The men would gather and check out what repairs would be needed and who could help. Everyone worked as a team, and the churches were always in good repair.
Now we have consolidation. WestKill is part of Lexington church, North Settlement is part of Ashland which is combined with Windham and Mitchell Hollow. There are no work bees, no lawn mowing schedule. Everything is contracted out. Many of our churches are falling in disrepair because they are empty.
We think back to the Strawberry Social where families got together to pick the strawberries, then the women sat all day and hulled and sliced the berries, along with gossip. We caught up on family then. we were friends. In the fall we had chicken or clam dinners. Again, all worked together. We had bake sales, and craft sales.
Summer time came and the churches had picnics. Clam bakes on the Tompkin's farm, corn roasts and picnics. Every activity had a party atmosphere as parents were relaxed and the children all played together. If you needed transportation to an event, someone would be willing to pick you up. My grandfather Holdridge had a seven passenger Packard which he used to transport guests for his boarding house, The Maples. My father, Leslie would use it to transport those who couldn't drive to activities.
Weddings were held in these churches, and many memories come.
St Theresa's in Windham had so many parishioners that they needed a police officer to direct traffic. Many a Sunday my brother Franklyn stood at the intersection.
Now we have our once yearly service to keep the church active. St Joseph's in Ashland is the oldest Catholic Church in the area, but it is only opened on June 1. We have our yearly services at North Settlement and Mitchell Hollow to keep them viable. How long until all of the churches will be opened only once a year? How long will they be standing without the money for repairs? Are we seeing another part of our history and culture disappear?
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