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Volume I, No. 1, Fall 1973 |
PIE SUPPER
The annual Dry and Dusty Pie Supper was held on May 4. As far as anyone seemed to know they had had pie suppers there since the school was built many years ago. Friends greeted one another to talk or try out the playground equipment as some gathered outside until the time to start, while others entered the room, squeezing themselves into the children's school desks. There were no decorations, but none were needed, because the people alone were enough for that with their casual dress, range in ages and their friendliness. As the entertainment began, everyone came in sitting in the remaining seats or standing.
All during the evening events students kept trying to sell raffle tickets for an electric skillet. The winner was announced at the end of the pie supper. Much of the proceeds for the pie supper came from the raffle tickets.
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Intent faces on the crowd showed their interest. Whole families attended, like Mr. and Mrs. Arley Yates and daughter, Donna.
The entertainment was provided by Chester and Terry Wood. Toe tapping and finger snapping from the audience were signs they enjoyed the country music.
The selling of the pies was next. The auctioneer, Randy Lewis, couldn't have been better. He kept the people's attention and kept the whole sale lively.
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I personally, didn't know exactly what was going on. Pat Wood, a lady seated in front of me told me that the girls make the pies, sandwiches, cookies, or whatever they want to bring. They decorate the boxes the way they want them with bows and ruffles. The price of the pies ranged from $1.50 to $12.50
The auctioneer then held up the box and the bidding began. The fun part about it is that the bidders don't always know whose box they're buying until after they buy it and the name of the girl is given to them.
When the auctioneer calls out, "Who'll give a dollar for this box? I've got seventy-five cents, who'll give a dollar?" he gets a bid from Franklin Appleby.
As the bidding continues and two boys compete against each other, the auctioneer points to First one, then the other. When one hesitates, he says, "Four dollars, once, four dollars, twice, and sold to ..... "
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The prettiest girl contest followed the selling of the pies. Six girls were nominated by their classmates to be in the contest. Although the girls didn't have to be from Dry and Dusty, all of them were. The girls, classmates, Friends, and relatives all supported them by giving a penny a vote. The race finally narrowed down to two girls. Mr. Sexton, the teacher, gave five more minutes to collect the last votes.
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Linda Purcell won by three hundred and twelve votes. The total amount of money collected for pretty girl was $76.81.
The next contest was the Love Sick Couple. Again a vote cost a penny. The winners, Wanda Porter and Neil Stovall, had to eat a dill pickle together in front of everyone.
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The only thing left was the eating of the pies and box lunches. The boy who bought a pie ate it with the girl who brought it.
The children gathered around a desk to eat their goodies.
By this time there were sleepy little people, like Samuel Miller, some with their heads on the desks, oblivious to the hubbub around them.
The pie supper financed a trip to Silver Dollar City for the whole school one day the last week of school. This was a special year for the students. They were happy and sad--happy because it was a successful pie supper and school would soon be out, but sad because next year, there will be no pie supper due to the consolidation of the one-room school.
(Research by Jim Baldwin, Terry Brandt, Suzanne Carr, Jenny Kelso, and Genetta Seeligman. Photographs by Suzanne Carr and Steven Hough )
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Copyright © 1981 BITTERSWEET, INC.
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