A community event from 1940 was brought back recently as the Owen County Chamber of Commerce and Babbs Supermarket in Spencer, Indiana, hosted the Chester’s Chicken Chuck.
The event, also held in partnership with the Owen County Community Foundation, Smithville and other local sponsors, took place on the courthouse lawn Sept. 6.
In 1940, local businessmen Chester Babbs, Dwight Johnson and Fred White came up with a plan to toss live turkeys, ducks and chickens from the courthouse roof “so townsfolk could wrangle their Christmas dinner right off the street,” according to a statement from the chamber of commerce.
The original “Poultry Fly” was recreated with a modern twist – no live animals.
In previewing the event, Tony Clements, operations director for Babbs Supermarket, recalled the classic “WKRP in Cincinnati” episode – Turkey’s Away – when the radio station dropped live turkeys from a helicopter.
While that event was a disaster, the modern Chester’s Chicken Chuck was a success, as foam and rubber chickens were tossed from the courthouse roof.
The chamber devised three rounds for pre-registered teams – two to compete for the grand prize of Babbs Supermarket fried chicken for a year and one for a contribution to a local charity. The teams attempted to catch the chickens in a laundry basket
Two Open Fly rounds (adults and children) followed, where all community members were welcome to participate.
The grocer provided 150 of the chickens for chucking off the courthouse roof and the prize selection, including free fried chicken for a year, free whole fryer chickens and a 97-second shopping spree at Babbs in celebration of the store’s 97th anniversary this year.
“On the day of the event, all foam and rubber chickens were tossed off the courthouse roof to an enthusiastic crowd of Owen County residents by our volunteer fire department,” said Rachel Kerns, Babbs Supermarket marketing manager.
[RELATED: Babbs Supermarket Has Deep, Personal Connection To Indiana Community]
Babbs Supermarket owner Rob Babbs, Chester’s grandson, said the event was a huge success.
“Well over 200 people attended and the participants, several in costume, put on quite a show – laughter one minute, woo-hoos and applause the next,” he said.
“Unanimous approval is hard to come by these days, so we were elated it went so well. One person after another asked, suggested and requested that we do it again next year. Honestly, I think it’s here to stay.
“It’s just so rewarding to bring back an event my grandfather started 85 years ago and have it so well accepted. Honoring the legacy of Chester Babbs means the world to me.”
