March 24, 2013 The Smell of Spring in the Air

 What makes you think of Spring? The geese overhead with their honking, the first robin in the yard, or the flowers that poke above the snow and ground? Maybe, just maybe, it’s the aroma of Bar-B-Q chicken on a Sunday morning.

Packing the chickens into foiled lined barrels. Interlaken Review April 1, 1981
Interlaken Historical Society, Community Photo collection

It’s the smell of charcoal starting, the chickens cooking in that special sauce that fills the air and starts one thinking about how early to arrive at the fire house to be sure to get chicken.

For many years, the event was held at the old fire house with the Bar-B-Q pits set up along Railroad Ave. Then with the move to the current fire house, the cooking was done on the portable pits behind the fire house. A pavilion was built, and then the fixed concrete block pit was added.

It’s not unusual to see people begin lining up at 11:30, a half hour before serving begins. As the beans and potatoes are brought to the serving table, everyone perks up a bit. The cooler is carried in, the carryout boxes are lined up and serving begins. The long wait is over, whether measured in minutes since you arrived at the fire house or months since the Car Show Bar-B-Q back in August, it is time to enjoy that wonderful goodness of chicken, salt potatoes, hot beans and fresh rolls.

Chickens are done. Interlaken Reivew April 24, 1990
Interlaken Historical Society Community photo collection

Now that you are thinking about it, mark your calendar for Sunday April 9^th and plan to be on hand when that big cooler gets opened this year.

Turning the chickens on a spring morning.
Author's collection

Dewitt’s Diary Tuesday, March 24, 1953

Temperature 42 A heavy rain starting early in the night and still raining strong this morning. More than an inch in the can I put out last night.

The rain stopped about 11 o’clock. A total of 1 ¾ fell here. Clearing late this afternoon. Creeks are running torrents. Temperature 50 and sun out bright at sundown.

We needed this rain badly and the lawns and wheat really look green today.