By Jodi Hausen,Staff Writer

STRONG – Bean suppers are a New England tradition, one that residents of Strong have enjoyed every year at their annual town meeting for more than 100 years.

Approximately 50 voters and friends gathered in the basement of Forster Memorial Building Saturday after the town’s annual meeting carrying on a tradition that’s at least 105 years old, said Betty Haggan, one of its organizers.

The dinner is organized by the Strong United Methodist Women to raise money for the church. Cost for the first meal was five cents, according to Haggan. But times have changed and the cost has risen to $5.

The price may have changed but the menu hasn’t. It includes baked beans, brown bread, hot dogs, coleslaw, rolls, pickles and homemade pies. The menu is “a sacred cow,” said Norine Veal, whose query several years ago about changing it was met with disdain.

And one pie baker is almost as old as the tradition. Arline Potter, 96, not in attendance Saturday, always bakes a butterscotch pie for the tradition and Saturday was no exception, said organizers.

The lunch has served not only to feed people but also as a break in a sometimes long day of discussion and debate. This year’s meeting went smoothly with business wrapping up by about noon, allowing attendees to enjoy a leisurely meal at long tables draped with blue tablecloths. The meal is served buffet style now. But Dorris Brackley, who’s volunteered for the meal for more than 30 years, remembers waiting on the tables as a teen.

Quenten Clark, superintendent for SAD 58, which serves Strong, isn’t a resident of the town. He has attended two town meetings on the first Saturday of March – Kingfield’s and Strong’s – for nine years.

“I always go to Kingfield first, then come here so I can be here for lunch,” he said Saturday sitting across from assistant superintendent for SAD 9, Sue Pratt.

“If there’s a contentious issue, lunch settles things down,” he added.