A 57-year-old tradition will continue next Saturday when the Elizabethton Kiwanis Club hosts its annual pancake breakfast. “It is not only our number one fundraiser, but it is close to being the number one social event of the town. We have a core group of patrons who show up every year for the breakfast,” said Richard Barker, who is club chairman for the breakfast.

“Many of the old timers who attended the breakfast are now gone. For years the first two to come through the doors on Saturday morning of the breakfast were Henry Sharpe and Ernie Shultz. Then, there was Don Tetrick, who for years served as the Pancake Day chairman and actually initiated the breakfast, locally. This is the first year we will have done the breakfast without Harold Lane. He was unable to work last year, and, of course, has since passed. He always did the pancake mix, and was very instrumental in keeping the breakfast going. Time has a way of changing things, but we still have a following,” said Barker.

In the beginning and for many years the breakfast was held outside on Armed Forces Drive, between the old Eagle store and Fred Moore’s Men Shop. “We had it outside until 1981 when the weather was really bad. The following year we moved to First United Methodist Fellowship Hall and it has proven to be a good relationship. It is really the best move we ever made,” said Barker.

The pancake breakfast is the Kiwanis Club’s major fundraiser of the year. The club sponsors key clubs at Unaka High and Elizabethton High Schools and are in the process of organizing one at Happy Valley High School. The club also sponsors a Builders Club at T.A. Dugger Junior High School and K Kids at Harold McCormick, East Side, and West Side Elementary Schools.

In addition to the school clubs, the Kiwanis Club maintains the Kiwanis Park in West End, supports the Imagination Library, Carter County Headstart Program, and the 4-H Program.

The Elizabethton Club presently has about 30 members. “We have picked up about five or six members this year. We have had a few members who started out as K Kids,” said Barker.

Barker, who does the shopping for the pancake breakfast, said his shopping list will include about 100 pounds of pancake mix, 25 or 30 bottles of syrup, five or six pounds of coffee, milk and orange juice as well as plastic ware, paper plates, and carryouts.

“Dino’s Restaurant helps us out tremendously by getting the sausage at wholesale cost and pre-cooking it for us. Saturday morning the sausage is heated to perfection under the spatulas of Leonard Febuary and Jim Broyles,” said Barker.

In the past, Dr. Paul has been the chief pancake maker, but this year that chore will fall to Barker and Jarred Ellis.

“Everyone waits the tables and Key Club members also help with serving,” said Barker.

“You have to pay your dues,” Barker laughed. “You start at the grunt level and make your way up to the front of the pancake line. We have a good time doing the breakfast. It’s a lot of work, but we have fun and it is rewarding,” said Barker.

Serving time is from 7 to 10:30 a.m. “Our busiest time is from about 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.,” said Barker.

This year’s tickets were compliments of Campbell’s Folsom Printing Co.

The club meets each Tuesday at noon at Dino’s Restaurant.