PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — For the seventh consecutive year, members of the Presque Isle Lodge of Elks 1954 served Christmas dinner to people in the area who would have otherwise spent Christmas alone. The Elks provided transportation to the Lodge, located at 508 Main St., to people needing transportation, most often in a stretch limousine provided by Luxury Limos of Caribou and escorted by a Presque Isle police cruiser and fire truck.
An army of Elks members and other volunteers cooked and served a garden salad, roast turkey, country-baked ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, butternut squash and mixed vegetables to the dinner guests. As they’ve done since the beginning, the Northeastland Hotel prepared 40 quarts of tomato bisque, which the Elks served as a starter course, along with the 24-dozen dinner rolls baked and donated by Governor’s Restaurant. In addition, Governor’s provided 20 cream pies of varying flavors and several layer cakes. With the baked fruit-filled pies donated by Star City IGA and Steaks and Stuff, the dinner guests had some difficult decisions in choosing a dessert.
Throughout the event, Central Aroostook’s “Soggy Bottom Boys,” comprised of James “Sheldon” Wright, Leland Clark, Peter Parker, Wendell Hudson and new members, Jeremiah Donovan playing the standup bass, and Allan “Dusty” Brown on a cittern, entertained the gathering with both traditional Christmas music, as well as some songs composed by Wright.
The Rev. Tim Stohlberg, assistant pastor of the Presque Isle United Congregational Church, had agreed, in the absence of the Rev. Robert Grove-Markwood, to deliver the benediction for the event. Upon arrival at the Lodge, however, Rev. Stohlberg, his wife and two children, were all assigned additional duties, which they happily undertook, serving coffee and meal courses, busing tables, and assisting in the cleanup. Mrs. Claus, who joined the event with her husband, Santa, also bore a striking resemblance to Mrs. Stohlberg.
Dana Dickinson, co-chair of this annual Elks event from its very inception, was pleased with not only the turnout, but the generosity of the community.
“It is with a sense of great pride that the Elks annually organize and sponsor the Christmas dinner. This event fills a significant need in the community, as evidenced by the continually increasing attendance, as well as the community support the Elks Lodge receives,” he said. “This support comes in many forms, all of which are gratefully received by the Lodge. It includes cash contributions used for the substantial food purchases and donations of food.
“In addition, people who are not even members have found fulfillment by annually volunteering to serve at the Elks Family Christmas Dinner as their own personal Christmas tradition,” said Dickinson. “Presque Isle City Councilor Bruce Sargent, his two sons and grandson, who worked steadily throughout this year’s Christmas Dinner, are a good example of people who have both enjoyed and exhibited the spirit of Christmas while assisting with this Elks’ project. It is, in fact, the spirit of Christmas which the Elks attempt to display throughout the year as they carry out their motto, ‘Elks care, Elks share.’”
The Presque Isle Elks will begin the New Year looking for ways to expand the capacity of the lodge to meet the expected increased attendance at the eighth annual Elks Family Christmas Dinner Dec. 25.
