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Chester County Press

Uncle Irvin: What happened to ham/oyster dinners?

04/21/2015 02:14PM ● By Richard Gaw
There used to be four ham and oyster dinner fundraisers in Oxford each year. Uncle Irvin and spouse went to all of them!

Two were fundraisers for the Oxford Lions Club, and two for the Oxford Fire Company. There were two in the fall and two in the spring all at the Oxford Fire House, and all were all-you-can-eat. Every one was well attended, as far as I could tell. The price of the dinner was raised two years ago from $18 to $20, which is very reasonable for the big, juicy Chesapeake Bay oysters that were fried crispy brown and served right from the fryer.

Last fall there were none, and it appears this spring there will be none.

The suppers were all put on by volunteer members, and a Boy Scout troop helped out. I don't know what happened that caused these affairs to become extinct. I don't think it was the price of the dinner, because at $20, it was irreplaceable anywhere.

The dinners were put on at least since 1970, when I came to Oxford. I wish they would resume soon, because my wife and I -- and many others -- surely miss them.