Title
To declare Saturday, June 23, 2007 "Bean Dinner Day" in the City of Columbus.
Body
WHEREAS, bean dinners became popular events after the Civil War, as veterans from both the North and the South would gather for reunions and cook simple food in the style of the campaigns of the war-beans and coffee, and
WHEREAS, previous to the 1930's, the Hilltop Business Association (then the Hilltop Businessman's Association) would sponsor yearly picnics at Buckeye Lake as a way to thank their customers for their business throughout the year, and
WHEREAS, the idea of a bean dinner was put forth, and after a few years, the bean dinner was held for three straight days: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from noon until around 9:00 p.m. Beans were cooked in large pots on open fires, and any business owner could display goods and distribute samples, and
WHEREAS, during the late 1950's and early 1960's, carnivals were added as attractions, drawing people from areas other than the Hilltop, and
WHEREAS, after some time off, a renewed Hilltop Business Association restarted the Bean Dinner again in 1981. The first one was located at Franklin Heights High School. Expressing a desire to return to the Hilltop, permission was granted from the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department to hold the Bean Dinner in Westgate Park, and
WHEREAS, the Hilltop Business Association, which was organized in 1926 with the purpose of developing and improving the Hilltop area of Columbus, Ohio, is celebrating 81 years of service, and
WHEREAS, many people return to the Hilltop from around the city and state to visit and see old friends, and
WHEREAS, the contemporary version of the Bean Dinner has been sponsored by the Hilltop Business Association for 26 years; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby proclaim Saturday, June 23, 2007 "Bean Dinner Day" in the City of Columbus.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That a copy of this Resolution be presented to the leadership of the 2007 Bean Dinner as a token of our appreciation and esteem.