The Cedars Lunch - December 2015. Photo contributed
Dec. 15 marked the end of an important era for Great Falls seniors. The celebrated and highly-touted monthly luncheon get-together, Cedars, convened for the last time at the Great Falls Methodist Church. Known for its delicious food, interesting presentations and relatively small fee, Cedars was a mainstay with 55 and over seniors living in Great Falls. While located and largely supported by the Great Falls United Methodist Church, it had support from other churches in the Great Falls Area Ministries including Christ the King Lutheran Church and St. Catherine’s Catholic Church.
The name Cedars was established in the early 1960s based on a biblical reference coupled with the preponderance of cedar trees in the area at the time. It began with 60-80 participants meeting once a month for card games at 10 a.m., followed by a presentation at 11 a.m. with historical, musical or artistic relevance. The luncheon started at noon. For five dollars, seniors were treated to a complete sit-down meal with table service on china tableware. The luncheon always included a soup or salad, an entrée with two vegetables, melt-in-your-mouth hot rolls, dessert and tea or coffee.
For the past thirty years, the major planner, coordinator and chef of the entire luncheon operation has been Dorothy Harsher. Under her stewardship, turkey dinners were always served in November, roast beef dinners with the Southern dessert, coconut cake, were always served in December. Valentine’s Day meant special desserts while St Patrick’s Day in March always included a menu with Irish stew and corned beef and cabbage. Martha Sullivan would drive from Berryville, Va. to make the warm, fresh rolls. Her duties were later taken over by Betty Brienza.
In more recent years, the game portion of Cedars was dropped and the presentations that began at 11 a.m. became a major attraction. Whether it was Robert “Mitch” Mitchell playing Christmas carols on the piano in December or a presentation bringing history alive with the story of Rosie the Riveter in November, the audience was always thoroughly entertained.
Participation had fallen off in the past year due to the aging population and the addition of new more vibrant organizations in the community. While it was a wonderful outreach program, a decision was reached that it was no longer a viable operation.
While many seniors will miss the delectable lunches and fascinating entertainment, the fellowship, camaraderie and friendships established by Cedars will be missed the most.