Sepia Saturday: Whatcha got cookin'?

Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family history through old photographs.

This week’s Sepia Saturday prompt awakened my senses as I imagined the aroma and taste of a delicious soup simmering on the stove. That is exactly what happens whenever I see this picture too.

It is what our family and friends call “Mathias Chicken.” We did not invent it, but where we live it is unusual, and since we are apparently the only ones who do chicken this way, our name has been attached to it.

BBQ Chicken Pit in Broadway, Virginia

In Rockingham County - the chicken capital of Virginia if not the world - SOMEBODY is barbecuing chicken every Saturday. Church groups, volunteer firemen, Ruritans, Lions, Woodmen of the World and anyone else with access to a pit and a good recipe can make good money selling barbecued chicken. When my husband and I were dating and in our early years of marriage, we could buy a half chicken for $1.50, but I do not know what the going rate is now.

What makes this chicken different is that the sauce is vinegar-based with lots of salt, garlic powder or salt, onion powder OR salt, vegetable oil, and hot sauce, plus any other unique variations. The chicken marinates overnight and is put on the grill early the next morning to cook low and slow.

The king of chicken barbecue “back in the day” was Dave Shirkey. Any civic organization that advertised their chicken was prepared by Dave Shirkey was sure to sell out early. For a long time, his recipe was a well-kept secret. He was not the only one with a good recipe though. Our family has one.

 

Ads appeared every week in the Harrisonburg, VA  Daily News Record

For my in-laws’ 50^th Anniversary, what better way to celebrate than with “Mathias Chicken.” In 1988, Ervin and Helen’s seven children and their families gathered at the family homeplace in Timberville, Virginia to do what the Mathias clan does best - EAT!

Jeff douses the chicken with more sauce using a toilet brush -
a new one, of course!

Barry’s brother Jeff borrowed a neighbor’s pit and took charge of the chicken barbecue.

Helen and Ervin with their fancy cake!
I love Helen's pose.

Look at all that Tupperware!
Barry's sisters Delyn and Brenda, oldest brother Donald, and Helen

Back: Barry, Donald, Wayne, Jeff
Front: Ervin, Helen, Brenda, Linda, Delyn

At our home in Chesapeake, for a long time we had no real barbecue pit. Our Weber grill was great for burgers and hot dogs, but not barbecue chicken the way we like it. So Barry commissioned Crossroads Fuel to cut down a couple of barrels and then he fashioned the grates with materials sold at Home Depot. Now we are set whenever someone says, “I think it’s time for some Mathias Chicken!”

At our lake house 2012
Barry with neighbor John in the smoke
I made Barry use a vegetable brush rather than toilet brush!

John and Barry - barbecuing chicken is a fun social time
but also some sitting and beer-drinking is required
while waiting to turn the chicken

End of Summer Bash at the lake
Neighbors enjoyed a pot luck that included Mathias Chicken.

Mmmm - I think it’s time for some Mathias Chicken!

Hey Good Lookin’ - See what’s cookin’ at Sepia Saturday!

Wendy

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