By Cathy Downing
Columnist | Posted: Thursday, November 27, 2008 12:00 am
Thanksgiving, a time of year when families rally round, is a welcome holiday for rural residents. Kids and grandkids from far and near return to the hills to share meals and memories. If they're lucky, they feast on homegrown turkeys and ham and backyard vegetables. For others, a WinCo Butterball and canned beans will grace the table. But whatever the source of meat, the lively conversations and plentiful food is always something to look forward to when the November weather dampens spirits.
Most residents out here have longtime Thanksgiving traditions with gatherings of the clan, since many have extended families that have remained in the area. For others, long distances and the hassles of air travel keep them here for the holidays and away from their families
For years, a Thanksgiving potluck in downtown Summit has accommodated all the "orphans" who, separated from biological kin, have to stick around here on Thanksgiving. (Sometimes, that in itself is something to be thankful for!)
This Summit tradition was established 30 years ago to bring together all the new residents who had moved to the Coast Range back in the 1970s. Most of them were young, far from their families and with little money to travel.
Although the new Summit Center had been moved to its present location by 1979, there was still no running water or stove in the building, so the grange hall, with slightly better facilities, seemed like a logical location for the big meal.
Jean Newman cooked a fat turkey and someone else brought ham. (It's a little-known fact, but back then not everyone in Summit was a vegetarian.) Others brought typical '70s dishes in various shades of brown and yellow based on recipes from Laurel's Kitchen. Jean's homemade elderberry wine was a big hit. There were probably 15 to 20 people there that first Thanksgiving potluck, and a tradition was started.
In subsequent years, the annual feast was held across the street at the Summit Center, which had been outfitted with recycled appliances and a sink.
Although it's smaller than the the grange hall, the center is much cozier, and for years the Thanksgiving potluck rarely brought in more than 20 people. That recently has changed.
The Summit Renaissance, over the past five or six years, has rejuvenated the community and bolstered the waning number of potluck-goers. An influx of retired couples and young families who, like their predecessors, live far from their relatives, have boosted the number of potluck participants to the highest number ever. For the past several years, there have been at least 50 or more celebrants at the Summit Center on Thanksgiving.
No one goes away hungry, in spite of the increasing numbers. Several turkeys and hams grace the table now, along with an incredible variety of homemade casseroles, breads and desserts. More important than food, however, is the feeling that everyone is welcome and everyone is "family" on this important day of thanksgiving. We are thankful for our all-embracing community and the new blood that has revitalized it.
Nashville resident Kathi Downing can be contacted at ramdown@peak.org or 456-4252.