[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12868]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HAMLINE CHURCH DINING HALL

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                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 5, 2017

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 120th 
Anniversary of the Hamline United Methodist Church Dining Hall at the 
Minnesota State Fair.
  As one of the nation's oldest state fairs, and the largest state fair 
by attendance, Minnesota's ``Great Get-Together'' attracts nearly 2 
million people each year over its annual 12-day run. Over the years, 
countless fairgoers have satisfied their hunger for good food and 
fellowship at the Hamline United Methodist Church Dining Hall. The 2017 
fair, which just wrapped up yesterday, marked a truly special milestone 
for the dining hall.
  Beginning in 1897, a group of women from the Hamline Methodist 
Episcopal Church Ladies Aid Society decided to raise money for their 
congregation by hopping in the back of a church member's coal wagon and 
heading to the Minnesota State Fair to sell sandwiches they had made in 
their basement. Thus began a great ritual of feeding fairgoers that has 
continued through two World Wars, the Great Depression, and dramatic 
demographic changes in Minnesota.
  Throughout its 120 years, Hamline Methodist Church has served meals 
from various locations on the fairgrounds. Its current home site was 
purchased from the East Immanuel Norwegian Evangelical Church of Saint 
Paul in 1944. That building was replaced by the current building in 
1968, with an addition added in 1983 to accommodate its increasing 
popularity.
  While the physical venue of the dining hall has changed over the 
years, the heart of the operation has remained its volunteers. Every 
year more than 60 volunteer servers and food prep workers a day fill 
over 700 shifts. There, they prepare and serve its signature Hamline 
Ham Loaf, Swedish Meatballs, famous breakfasts, and bottomless cups of 
coffee. Delicious food has brought together generations of Minnesotans 
and other visitors from across the country. It also helped to fund 
reconstruction of the Church's sanctuary on Englewood Avenue in Saint 
Paul, after a Christmastime fire destroyed it in 1925. The dining hall 
remains popular with fairgoers because it offers a place to take a 
break, sit down, and use real silverware and a plate rather than just 
food on a stick.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing this proud Minnesota State 
Fair tradition. I wish the congregation of Hamline United Methodist 
Church all the best as they plan for the next 120 years of hospitality 
at the Hamline United Methodist Church Dining Hall.

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