Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: refreshments

"Picnic. There will be a grand picnic held at Fairhope, July 4, 1916. We have erected a large waxed floor for those who wish to enjoy dancing. There will be refreshments of all kinds served on the grounds. Everybody cordially invited. Kennell & Sturtz, managers." This comes from a photo of a broadside framed under glass rather than a scan, and the quality of the image suffers a bit. "Sturtz," who was one of the managers of this "grand picnic" held on the Fourth of July one hundred years ago, was probably John W. Sturtz , who was my great-grandfather. I'm not exactly sure what "grounds" in the small town of Fairhope , Somerset County, Pennsylvania, might have been available as a venue for serving refreshments and erecting a "large wax floor" for dancing.

Church groups and other organizations used variations of this poem to invite members to "Birthday Party" gatherings that were both social get-togethers and fundraising events. See additional examples from 1896 and 1910 (below). Birthday Offering, will be held in the Social Hall of Cookman M. E. Church, October 15, 1912, by the Epworth League in honor of the 45th birthday of George W. Young. Upon this card, a little sack, We give to you with pleasure; Please either send or bring it back, Having filled it from your treasure. To put in pennies were are told, As many years as you are old; And if your name in public be read, We promise the number will never be said. Refreshments will be served to all, and we kinly invite you to make a call; And earnestly pray that the Lord will bless And crown the work with abundant success. The proceeds are for the benefit of the society. If not convenient to attend, please forward sack with your offering.

Church groups and other organizations used variations of this poem to invite members to "Birthday Party" gatherings that were both social get-togethers and fundraising events. See additional examples from 1896 and 1912 (below). The Mite Society will give a Birthday Party, Thursday evening, Sept. 15th, 1910, in the Nantmeal M. E. Church, Rev. J. S Tomlinson, pastor. This birthday party Is given to you; We hope you will come, And propose if you do, An agreeable time. Some good things to eat And besides many others A musical treat. As we could not secure The number of candles To let your light shine, We send this fandangle; Put safely within it As many round pennies As years you are old. Your light will be bright. If you send it or bring it. While we will keep dark, If you wish, what's within it. The Mite Society With greetings most hearty, Feel sure you will come To your own birthday party.

Church groups and other organizations used variations of this poem to invite members to "Birthday Party" gatherings that were both social get-togethers and fundraising events. See additional examples from 1910 and 1912 (below). Birthday Party, in the Methodist Church, Parryville, Tuesday evening, February 18, 1896, at seven o'clock. Invitation. This "Birthday Party" is given for you, 'tis something novel, something new. We send to you a little sack--please either send or bring it back With as many cents as you're years old, we vow the number will ne'er be told. Methodist people with greetings hearty, fell sure you'll attend your own birthday party. Benefit of the Ladies' Aid Society of the Methodist Church. Cake and coffee free.

"Fastnacht Sociable, by the Altar Society, Grace Ev. Luth. Church, Lect. Room, N. Queen and James, for new church improvem't fund. Admission, refreshment, and entertainment, 10 cts. Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1904. Admit one. P.A.P." -------- Although this 1904 ticket for a "Fastnacht Sociable" in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, doesn't specify what refreshments were served during this church fundraiser, its shape and the event's name suggest that "fastnachts"--a type of fried doughnut--were on the menu ( fastnachts , however, aren't necessarily round in shape and may not have a hole in the middle). As Wikipedia explains, " Fastnacht Day , is an annual Pennsylvania Dutch celebration that falls on Shrove Tuesday , the day before Ash Wednesday....Traditionally, fastnachts are made to use up the lard, sugar, butter, eggs and other rich foods in a house before the austere diet of Lent begins." Fastnacht Day--which fell on Tuesday, March 4, in 2014--continues to be observed in central Pennsylvania, and a number of Catholic and Protestant churches in the area each make as many as 100,000 fasnachts to sell. Some fastnacht makers use special recipes, such as one which produces an uncoated yeast-raised potato doughnut that's square in shape with no hole, while others--including many grocery and convenience stores--simply repackage their regular sugared or glazed doughnuts and label them as fastnachts. See Sue Gleiter's article, " What Is a Fastnacht? Apparently More Than Just a Fried Doughnut ," PennLive.com, March 3, 2014, for additional information on making, selling, and eating fasnachts. -------- For a ticket to another church-sponsored "fastnacht social," see Annual Fastnacht Social, St. Andrew's Reformed Sunday School, Reading, Pa., Feb. 21, 1950 .