The First Presbyterian Church of Chili is holding its annual Fall Supper on Saturday, November 6. The roast beef dinner will be offered take-out only at 3600 Chili Avenue, starting at 4 p.m. until sold out. The cost is $14 per person (no prior ticket sales). The menu includes roast beef, homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade squash, cranberry relish, coleslaw, roll and a choice of apple or pumpkin pie for dessert.
A review of the dinner’s history shows the first entry in church records about the fall supper occurred in 1916. In those days, the menus varied, some years fresh pork, sometimes ham, sometimes chicken. However, for the past 75 years or so, roast beef has been served. The Chili Presbyterian Annual Roast Beef Dinner has become a community institution that people look forward to. In 2020, the church sold out at 5:30 p.m. having served 425 meals.
During the 1920s, 30s, 40s, and probably even before, the supper was served in the balconies of the sanctuary. The room over the narthex was used as the kitchen. Water was carried by hand from across the street, dinner was cooked on kerosene stoves without vents, and there was only a single sink. Preparing these dinners was difficult and hot. Yet, it was not uncommon to serve over 200 people in three seatings. The balconies could seat 38 people on each side, thus a maximum of 76 people per seating. Of course, the church now has a dining room and in recent years between sit-down and take-out served about 500 people on average.
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