>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

"Anne of Green Gables" spring tea was hosted at the Elgin Library Saturday in honor of the story's 100th anniversary. Twenty-eight guests were served a three-course menu from the turn of the century. In attendance at this table was (left) Destiny Greene, Kim Erwin, server Miah Slater, library board member Sarah Cunningham and Becci Scott, all of Elgin. - Photos/TRISH YERGES

Library board member Holly Krause was the hostess for the three-course tea celebration.

Addressing those in attendance, Krause said, “I found a couple of cookbooks of ‘Anne of Green Gables,’ and that’s what you’re having today.”

Among the 28 guests were library board members Kim Summers, Dori Hightower, Bev Gordon and Sarah Cunningham as well as many “Anne of Green Gables” fans.

The turn-of-the-century menu included foods enjoyed by 11-year-old Anne in the dramatic portrayal of her life with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert on their farm in Avonlea. The menu included raspberry cordials, tea, poetical egg salad sandwiches, cowcumber sandwiches, peach preserves and jam tarts among other delicacies.

Serving the guests in period clothing were Theresa Smolkowski, Allie Bottger, Cara Campbell, Miah Slater and McKaye Harris, all members of Girl Scouts Troop 349.

Photos/TRISH YERGES

“Since the library district was not formed, we’ll soon lose the money we had for a lot of our reading programs. This fundraiser will help us get some of that money back,” said Chandler. “We’re going to try to have more events like this, only with a different book theme each time.”

Table sponsors included the Library Board, Future Business Leaders of America, Dirty Digger’s Garden Club, the Quilt Club, the Extension and St. Mary’s, said Chandler.

The 100th anniversary edition of “Anne of Green Gables” can be ordered through local book stores as well as a newly released prequel, “Before Green Gables,” by Nova Scotia children’s author Budge Wilson.