Pie social brings together Havre and Hi-Line friends

The 30th annual Havre-Hill County Library pie social Friday offered a wide array of pies to raise money for readers.

Friends of the Havre-Hill County Library was the main organizer of the Valentine's Day Pie Social and the money received will go back to the library to buy books.

Carol Spolar, a member of the Friends, said 62 pies were made for the social. Pies, like mincemeat, apple jack cheese, strawberry-rhubarb, pecan and other kinds one might not run across every day, were offered to Havre and Hi-Line residents.

A slice of pie, ice cream and coffee or punch was $3, Spolar said, and around an hour before the social was over, whole pies would be available for sale.

The Friends were also selling a book of homemade pie recipes from local pie makers. The book is called "A Second Helping" and was dedicated to Arlie Lane, who was very active in the organization and known for her strawberry-rhubarb pie, Spolar said. Copies of the book will continue to be sold at the library for $15.

Spolar said, though the social has been going strong for 30 years, the event is losing pie makers.

"Not a lot of younger girls are making pies," Spolar said.

But, that is not stopping the event from seeing more than 200 people and keeping the volunteers on their feet with the constant rush of old and new friends visiting each other, catching up and keeping a Havre tradition alive.

Lori Roberts, the children's librarian, said she enjoys seeing the people gather at the library.

"It's fun seeing everyone get together - seeing old friends," Roberts said.