“The dinner has always been called The DeBorgia Schoolhouse Spaghetti Dinner,” Naomi Stevens explained, who is involved in most everything in the west end of Mineral County.

“The original Happy Homemakers started it as their biggest fundraiser. I think it had to be about 40 years ago.” 

Somewhere along the journey people began referring to it as The Hunters Dinner since it is held the evening of the opening day of the general big game season, but the two are the same and have always been well received. 

“The ladies did try serving a Bouillabaisse, which is a tomato-based stew. It wasn't as popular as the spaghetti, so they switched back,” she said. “We always assign a chair for the event at the yearly strategic planning meeting in January.  This year Shannon Baum, one of our newer members, took it on and has done a great job,” said Lynette Walters, president of the DeBorgia Historical Schoolhouse Foundation. 

“She gets the volunteers to work at the dinner, do the shopping, decorate, work on making the sauce the day before, etc.  And Jennifer Drobny was in charge of getting all the donated desserts this year.” 

Fifteen different members brought a delightful variety of deliciousness. Cakes, pies, pudding desserts, brownies and many others. 

Walters added, “I don't know about all of the desserts, but I know Bonnie Imes always brings a pecan pie, and Naomi makes a lemon lasagna that's fabulous, too.”

Stevens was generous with credit by saying that, “The decorations were done by Diane Jones, Naomi Mesenbrink, and Christie Carriles this year. Susan Charles is usually in charge but is out due to her husband's illness. The spaghetti sauce makers were Christie (Carriles), Bonnie Mizener-Imes, Julia Engler, Hazel Cromwell, and me. I do the herbs and seasoning, adding my secret touches to make it extra special,” she grinned. 

Around 14 gallons were made with some remaining that will be sold at their Holiday Bake Sale in the school on Saturday, Nov. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Raffle prizes are another chapter of the evening patrons look forward to. This year Diane Jones donated a beautiful, quilted wall hanging, and Phyllis Stevens donated a gorgeous fall floral pop-up book that is very unique and will make a perfect holiday decoration. These items generated an additional $217 in sales plus $120 through additional donations while serving around 85 dinners for sit down or takeout.

“Most of the schoolhouse members help in the prep, serving and cleanup.

So many hands make this event possible, and it is our biggest fundraiser for the schoolhouse. We are so thankful for everyone who came to enjoy the dinner and support the historic schoolhouse,” Stevens said.

Like the DeBorgia Schoolhouse Spaghetti Dinner, the annual Holiday Bake Sale has a locked-in date which is the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The organization will not only have spaghetti sauce from this event, but fresh baked goods that are meant to help with the traditional holiday dinner through an assortment of cakes, pies, breads, pastries, cookies and vendors with other items. DeBorgia Schoolhouse dbschoolhouse@gmail.com.

    Decorations at the entrance of the DeBorgia Schoolhouse Spaghetti Dinner. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)