One Mile Long Barbecue Pit!

Boshizzle · 11-21-2012, 03:55 PM

If you do a lot of reading about BBQ history, you have probably heard of the world's largest barbecue ever held. It was in honor of the January, 1923 inauguration of Oklahoma governor Jack Walton.

Walton put out a call for donations for the barbecue and received an overwhelming response. The Dallas Morning News reported that thousands of cows, hogs, sheep, and chickens plus 103 turkeys, 1,363 rabbits, 26 squirrels, 134 opossums, 113 geese, 34 ducks, 15 deer, 2 buffalo, and 2 reindeer were donated for hundreds of thousands of to people to consume that were expected to attend.

But, to me, the most impressive thing about the barbecue was the part that everyone seems to leave out of the story: the barbecue pit. It was a hole dug in the ground that spanned 1 mile!

Mile-Long Trench Prepared For Inauguration Barbecue;
Cowboy Chef Almost Ready

The Morning Tulsa Daily World - December 28, 1922

Quote:

"We'll be ready to start cooking meat pretty soon," was the declaration today of I. R. McCann, nationally known cowboy chef, who is in charge of preparing meats for Oklahoma's big barbecue to be held here January 8 at the inauguration of Gov.-Elect J. C. Walton. "You know it takes about 30 hours to barbecue meat properly," McCann explained.

"A mile long trench over which the carcasses will roast was reported complete today and work on emergency houses and tents to house overflow visitors estimated to exceed two hundred thousand are under way," he said.

"It will be the biggest feat in the history of the world of its kind," continued McCann, "and it's going to go off like clock work. On the morning of January 7, there will be more than one thousand carcasses all nice and brown awaiting consumption by the hungry hordes. A trainload of wood is expected in soon and a carload of pepper has been ordered. I'll see the pepper is used with discrimination and there will be a feast of beef like your mother used to cook."

Thirty meat cutters, 1000 waiters, 52 fire handlers and 500 assistant chefs will prepare the feast.

Harbormaster · 11-21-2012, 03:58 PM

A freaking mile of BBQ. I would like to have seen that.

You find the coolest BBQ history Bo. Thanks for all of your research and reporting.

Pitmaster T · 11-21-2012, 05:01 PM

I've seen something like this before but it ended up either 6, 1000 foot pits or 12 500 foot pits, or 24, 250 foot pits.... something like that

bluetang · 11-21-2012, 06:12 PM

A mile of BBQ, dayum. The aroma must have been heavenly.

Mr. Bo · 11-21-2012, 07:02 PM

And they say down south that things are bigger in Texas...

That Oklahoma governor was trying to show 'em different.

Crazy Harry · 11-21-2012, 08:56 PM

you wouldn't be able to do that now, the permits fees paperwork inspections and all that chit would kill you

blue ox · 11-21-2012, 09:54 PM

Was there ever an update when it actually happened? I want to read more on it.

Boshizzle · 11-22-2012, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Harry

you wouldn't be able to do that now, the permits fees paperwork inspections and all that chit would kill you

Yep. That's one reason I love the pit at Smitty's. There is no way we could have a pit like this in a VA BBQ restaurant nowadays. You walk into the back door at Smitty's, walk around the corner and right at your feet is an oak fire. It's amazing!

Brian in Maine · 11-22-2012, 08:46 AM

That must have been one tired pitmaster at the end of the day!!

4ever3 · 11-22-2012, 08:48 AM

Thanks for the lesson Joe, and to think it was held in my backyard!

It kills me that in 1922 Mr. McCann said " there will be a feast of beef like your mother use to cook."

Westexbbq · 11-22-2012, 10:53 AM

Amazing, absolutely amazing.

HogFan · 11-22-2012, 12:05 PM

Impressive!

Slacker · 11-22-2012, 12:12 PM

Wow. Would be cool to see some photos from that day.

11-21-2012, 03:58 PM	#2
Harbormaster somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-14-06 Location: Wyocena/Pardeeville, WI Name/Nickname : Clark	A freaking mile of BBQ. I would like to have seen that. You find the coolest BBQ history Bo. Thanks for all of your research and reporting. __________________ Clark My Boys: Joseph (EI); Andrew (EE); Daniel (EE) My Toys: 10 WSMs (B, C, E, DH, DA, EZ, DZ, EO, DU, DR); 5 - 22.5" Bar-B-Q-Kettles; 2 - 18.5" Bar-B-Q-Kettle; 4 WGAs (EZ, DE, N, B); 2 SJPs ( DR, DR); 2 Smokey Joes (A, K); Brinkman Cimmaron. "For when democracy becomes tyranny, those of us with rifles still get to vote"

11-21-2012, 05:01 PM	#3
Pitmaster T Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-03-11 Location: Texas	I've seen something like this before but it ended up either 6, 1000 foot pits or 12 500 foot pits, or 24, 250 foot pits.... something like that __________________ I could care less if you pay attention - my 15 years of threads are here for the historical record before my impending death. ABOUT PITMASTER T Edict. Grace Jones Rubber Grabber Binder

11-21-2012, 06:12 PM	#4
bluetang somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-06-10 Location: Stuart, Fl Name/Nickname : Mike	A mile of BBQ, dayum. The aroma must have been heavenly. __________________ Homey, the Homegrown frier, 22" WSM, 18.5" Elderly(but not retired) WSM,Homegrown Electric, Weber gasserrrr,Weber Performer, Gravity feed smoker, Blackstone, Indisputably Fastest [COLOR=purple]Purple[/COLOR] Thermapen, SAI Satay Grill Avatar by landarc, thanky!

11-21-2012, 07:02 PM	#5
Mr. Bo is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-15-07 Location: Bisbee, AZ	And they say down south that things are bigger in Texas... That Oklahoma governor was trying to show 'em different. __________________ 55 gallon smokin' UDS BBQ Grillware gas grill Pit-Boss 700 Deluxe Traeger Lil Pig

11-21-2012, 08:56 PM	#6
Crazy Harry is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 07-08-09 Location: Deer Park, Wa	you wouldn't be able to do that now, the permits fees paperwork inspections and all that chit would kill you __________________ No trees were harmed in presenting this post; however, a great number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced. [URL]http://www.teddybearcreations-wa.com[/URL] Note to mods: is the back link ok? When all else fails ......

11-21-2012, 09:54 PM	#7
blue ox Got Wood. Join Date: 03-30-06 Location: Stockton, CA	Was there ever an update when it actually happened? I want to read more on it. __________________ Weber 22.5" Weber Go Anywhere Weber Ranch Kettle NB Bandera Brick BBQ and Smoker on patio

11-22-2012, 08:46 AM	#9
Brian in Maine is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 08-05-07 Location: Portland Me	That must have been one tired pitmaster at the end of the day!! __________________ Brian 2 WSMs 2 OTG One red one black 22 1/2" black Bar-B-Kettle with rotisserie ring Brinkman dual zone charcoal grill Webber Silver Genises B 3 burner camp stove

11-22-2012, 08:48 AM	#10
4ever3 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-29-12 Location: Tulsa	Thanks for the lesson Joe, and to think it was held in my backyard! It kills me that in 1922 Mr. McCann said " there will be a feast of beef like your mother use to cook." __________________ Jeremy Old Oklahoma Joe (Opal) GMG TREK (Greta Thunberg) Weber Summit Charcoal (Waylon) MAK 2 Star (Maybel) 2x “Unfortunately nothing wrong with that” Bob C Que… I must be living right (somehow…)

11-22-2012, 10:53 AM	#11
Westexbbq somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 09-02-05 Location: Rockin' Lake Ronfarkoma, Hinterlands of BBQ .	Amazing, absolutely amazing. __________________ Illuminated, circa 1967. KCBS CBJ-Texas Transplant. Texas Smokemaster offset, Well-cured NB Silver Smoker, Santa Fe grill (retired). glory bee gasser. Texas International Pop Festival, Labor Day 1969. IMBAS Certified. Just roll me up and smoke me when I die. Always remember, no matter where ya go, there you are. I wanna tell you 'bout Texas radio and the big beat. Someday, I hope to visit Penelope. Hondo Crouch, Famous Late Mayor of Lunkenbach, Texas who advocated a 'dillo diet: "You can eat nothing but armadillos for a month, but you will have to run down and catch all the armadillos you eat and it can really take the weight off!"

11-22-2012, 12:05 PM	#12
HogFan is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 03-21-12 Location: Arkansas	Impressive! __________________ OK Joe Vertical Smoker, UDS, Komado Acorn, Weber Kettle Ranch, Weber Kettle, Stok Kettle

11-22-2012, 12:12 PM	#13
Slacker Found some matches. Join Date: 07-08-12 Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas	Wow. Would be cool to see some photos from that day. __________________ Go Hogs!