First United Methodist Church to keep up hole beans dinner tradition

GILFORD — The First United Methodist Church of Gilford continues its long tradition of serving the best bean-hole beans in the region on Saturday, Oct. 19, as part of its Harvest Supper.  

Cooking beans in the ground may have originated with the New England Native American tribes.  The method was then used by marching regiments as they arrived at their destination and the cook had arrived early in the day to prepare the beans buried in holes with hot rocks, so that troops could be fed immediately.  The tradition continued into peace time with Grange suppers, Old Home Day suppers and church suppers throughout New England. Today, few of these public suppers continue the tradition of cooking their beans in bean holes.

However, for over 50 years, the First United Methodist Church in Gilford has proudly carried on this tradition.  On the Friday before the dinner, the beans are par-boiled, placed in huge iron pots with maple syrup, salt pork and spices.  In the late afternoon the two large iron pots are moved to the holes lined with red hot stones where the holes have been prepared by keeping a wood fire burning in the hole the entire day.  After covering the holes, the pots are left in the ground for 24 hours.  Saturday afternoon the pots are uncovered, lifted out and moved to the dining hall so beans can be scooped into dishes for serving.    

Besides the dark red kidney beans and yellow-eye beans, diners are served all-you-can-eat corned beef, cabbage, boiled potatoes, carrots, home-made rolls and apple or pumpkin pie for dessert.  

There will be seatings at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The beans will be lifted out at 4:30 p.m.

For more information and reservations call the church office at 603-524-3289.