Picnics, Parties And Potlucks
Barbara Palimbo chooses a delectable morsel at the August Potluck. Lois Alexander and Merge Comisky wait their turn.
Garden Clubbers love parties – potluck dinners, picnics, porch teas, Christmas parties – we are there! Research done by Viola Saunders indicates that one of the first picnic places selected was Twin Lakes. “It rained so hard, that the picnic had to be moved to the refreshment room of the Bedford Glens.” Mr. Ed Day offered the Bedford Glens to the Club for the 1937 President’s Ball. Seventy percent of the proceeds went to the P.T.A. Children’s Clinic and Bedford Hospital.
In 1940, Look-About-Lodge in Chagrin Reservation was a location of many potluck-picnics to come, thanks to individuals in the Club who were also members of the Cleveland Natural Science Club. At that time, the building was restricted to members only. The wading pool off the Egbert Road entrance to Metropolitan Park was a favored place in 1943, and continued to be for many years. “It was a beautiful evening and plenty of food, in spite of rationing,” a guest commented. Another picnic site was Hillandale, the country home of Mr. & Mrs. Sterling Prestage of Richmond Road. Even picnics were a learning experience. Vi Saunders reminisces about a picnic/nature walk at Bedford Glens. “For the first time in my life I saw a fragrant, trailing arbutus, a coveted wildflower rarely seen in Ohio.”
2001 Board Members: Barbara McDaniel, Linda Holmberg, Connie Choi, Barbara Palumbo, Edna Franz, Geneva Sheppard, JoAnna Telzrow, Viola Saunders, Sandy Reynolds, Pete Dickson, Lois Alexander, Mary Adam & Mary Loui Collins accept affirmation while Joyce Daunch takes the picture at the annual Christmas party.
Arlene Fuhrmeyer was in charge of picnics in the 50’s. The menu was always the same: meat loaf, baked beans, potato salad, jello salad, and cake. Arlene always brought a bowl of pickled beets. Unless you died on the way, woe to the person who forgot his or her assigned dish.
In recent years a picnic held at Archibald Willard Park, nearly ended in disaster. A nasty attack by yellow-jackets sent a member to the emergency room of Bedford Hospital. She survived. However, this was the impetus to move back to Look-About-Lodge (now owned by the Cleveland Metroparks), even though the hospitality committee had to come three days early to clean the bathrooms and kitchen. The picnic was held in the screened-in porch of the lodge, away from bombarding insects!
Christmas parties were always enjoyed by the Garden Club. Often held in member’s homes, they ranged from simple cookies and punch to more elaborate affairs. Twenty-five cent gift exchanges and parlor games made for a congenial evening. The best cooks in the world belong to the Bedford Garden Club, and attendance at potlucks prove it. Since the early 1990’s, member Andy Kaczur, our local butcher, has custom smoked a ham for the Club Christmas Party. Leftovers from Andy’s ham are a coveted prize in the Christmas gift raffle following dinner.
Speaking of parties, the hospitality team of Marge Comisky and Lois Alexander can not go without mention. Since 1985, they have set a beautiful table for our monthly meetings. Marge, color coordinates table cloths and napkins centered on a theme, precisely setting each tray of desserts in place. Lois creates floral centerpieces that delight the senses. In her spare time, Lois designed covers for our annual program booklets. (See examples of her work below.) The countless hours she spent making favors for the annual Christmas parties, and summer potluck dinners, made each event special.
