Published: September 07, 2009 08:22 pm      

Breakfast makes a good start to a Labor Day full of fun

If you think all activity on Labor Day weekend was on the lake, think again: Some early risers on Labor Day morning had to park along Tucker Road and walk nearly a quarter of a mile uphill to get to the Tucker Shelter House, scene of the annual Burnside Masonic Lodge breakfast. It was difficult to find a parking place.

Never fear, food to satisfy a whetted appetite was within arm’s reach. How about country ham, sausage, eggs, gravy and taters, washed down with hot coffee or juice? Breakfast preparers insisted that “taters,” not potatoes, were on the menu.

Tucker Shelter House at Bronston is a landmark at a place known in folklore as “South of the River.” The scenic area is populated by Tuckers, Flynns, Hardys and Hardwicks, among others, all of whom would feed any wayfaring stranger that happens their way.

And, it goes without saying, the aforementioned bonded families know something about local politics. They used to say if you couldn’t carry “South of the River” you had no chance winning a public office in Pulaski County.

This may still be true; at least office seekers must think so. Potential candidates during next year’s local elections were thick at the breakfast as ants at a picnic. It was difficult to avoid a firm handshake, pat on the back and a promise.

This was the fourth annual country ham breakfast sponsored by Burnside Masonic Lodge No. 634 to benefit Burnside Cemetery. Jim Brooks, past master of the lodge and chair of the Burnside Cemetery Board, said proceeds from the event go to maintain the cemetery, resting place for about 1,000 residents of the Burnside area. The lodge owns the cemetery, located on Wallace Avenue, Brooks noted.

The breakfast, served between 7 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., was expected to feed approximately 500 at $7 a plate.