HOUSTON
Community suppers have been conducted eight or nine months each year in the small northwestern Jackson County community of Houston.
They, however, could have come to a halt two years ago.
Catherine Clark, who started the suppers with her husband, Jack, died in March 2017.
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Fortunately, those living in the area found importance in keeping the tradition alive.
"They wanted to carry it on," Claire Mae Garloch said. "It just went on from there, and sometimes, we have a pretty good crowd. Sometimes, we don’t. It’s just according to the weather, and everybody’s busy, but you know it’s always going to be there."
Garloch takes the initiative each month to publicize the suppers, which are always pitch-ins at the Houston School. The one in November is always a Thanksgiving meal. They usually have a hot dog supper with hayrides in the fall. Sometimes, the main course is various types of soup.
"The first one we had on Thanksgiving, we had 75 people. There were neighbors I didn’t even know who they were," Garloch said with a chuckle. "We always have a tremendous meal. If there’s only 15 of us there, we have a bountiful meal."
It’s all about good company and good food, and everyone is invited — whether you live in the area or beyond.
"We extend our community a long way, all directions, so we invite anybody that wants to come and bring a covered dish and join us," Garloch said. "It’s just a gathering together of the community. We keep inviting all of the community to come in."
Saturday’s supper — the last one for this year — drew 14 people, including residents of Houston, Freetown, Seymour and Columbus.
Bud and Sharon Kirts were among the attendees. They helped the Clarks spread the word to get the tradition started and have been going to the monthly meals ever since.
"We just decided, got to thinking, ‘Why don’t we have it?’ and called the community and called several of the people around town, and we all said, ‘Yes,’" Sharon said. "It just became a thing."
The couple have lived in the area since they were married in 1972.
"We’ve lived here all of our lives, really, raised our kids here," Sharon said. "It’s just a little community that we all like. Everybody knows one another and looks out for one another and helps out one another."
Bud and his brother, Bob, both grew up in Houston and went to the Houston School. Bud said it’s neat to think all of these years later, he’s still going to the school, but now, it’s for the meals.
"Well, we spent a lot of time in the corners," he joked about the siblings’ school days.
"It’s home," Bob said. "It’s where I was raised at."
Bob said he likes the suppers for the fellowship, and Sharon said it’s good to "get somebody else’s cookin’."
Bob’s wife, Betty, said the couple moved away from the area when Bob was in the U.S. Navy, but they came back in 2000.
Once the suppers started, they have done their best to be there.
"We come every month unless we’re not home. My husband and I are guilty of not being home sometimes," Betty said.
Attendance varies each month, she said.
"Our numbers are a little low," she said. "We’ve had 30-some people here. It depends on the weather, and of course, people in the community, a lot of them are getting older, and some of them have passed."
When she attends the suppers, Betty said she likes the food the most.
"It’s always a pitch-in. Anyone can come and bring whatever, and we won’t turn you away if you didn’t bring something," she said, smiling. "We used to have some of the farmers out working in the fields and we would tell them, ‘Come eat,’ and they would."
She also appreciates the camaraderie and fellowship.
"I think it gives people an opportunity to know what’s going on with their friends and neighbors," she said.
For example, Nina and Kirk Kulhman have daughters in college, and Connie Greathouse has a daughter who lives out of state.
"It’s support, too. It’s a lot of support," Nina said. "You get to know your neighbors because we live so far apart, and if somebody has an issue, you can call and say, ‘Hey, I need your help.’ We all help each other out, and I think it helps. I got to know Connie, and Connie does a lot of seamstress stuff, so I know if the girls need something hemmed or something my mom can’t, we could call Connie for that."
The school also is a popular place in October during the Houston Fall Festival, and it’s an election polling site and has been the site for a wedding, baby showers and reunions.
"Next summer, we have another wedding here," Betty said.
Jack Clark said he’s glad the community took an interest in keeping the suppers going after his wife died. There won’t be a supper in December, so the next one will be in April 2020.
"When she passed away, the rest of them picked up, and I was really happy they did. I was kind of afraid it might die out," he said. "I like just getting together and visiting and getting to know each other."