“TONS OF MEAT, IT’S MACKAY’S TREAT” The history of Mackay’s Free BBQ and famous stone oven September 20, 2015 by Earl Lockie On the occasion of Mackay’s 77th annual free barbeque it may be fitting to reflect back on how the traditional affair all got started, and why the free barbeque and large stone oven have come to be synonymous. The story of Mackay’s annual free barbeque relates to times of celebration; actually two celebrated events. Both had to do with “water”, the lifeblood of the Lost River valley. The first of these two events occurred in May of 1923. The Mackay dam and reservoir had been a controversial project since the initial phases of its construction. After years of resistance by Mackay residents and numerous changes in dam design and engineering, the Utah Construction Co. would complete and dedicate the dam in 1918. It would take another 5 years to complete the canal system of the project, and finally reach a settlement of water rights with valley irrigators. Valley residents, elated not to have gone through years of litigation, felt it a reason to celebrate. The construction company, anxious to smooth the waters and heal a few old wounds, felt the same and on May 18, 1923 Mackay’s business community hosted a big barbeque for the whole town; Mackay’s first! The affair was well attended and an atmosphere of joy prevailed. The feelings of joy were very short-lived however, and as the valley entered the 1930's and after suffering years of drought and broken promises by the construction company, residents decided it was time to gain control of their own water destiny. In 1935, after approval of loan money from the U.S. government and local voter approval of the sale of bonds to purchase the dam and irrigation system, ownership and control of the waters of the Big Lost River finally came into the hands of the people of the Lost River Valley. This was truly a time for celebration, and, as the Mackay Miner newspaper termed it, “time for a revival of that first barbeque back in “23". The “real first” of Mackay’s annual free barbeque “Tons of Meat, its Mackay’s Treat” was born.

That barbeque of 1935, and subsequent barbeques of the 1930's, were lavish affairs with attendance by plenty of local, state, and even national politicians of the day. It was said that more notables attended the Mackay barbeque than any other function held throughout the entire state; speeches, bands, and plenty of free food to take care of the usual crowds of 2-3000 people. In fact the speech making became such a problem that measures were taken to limit their duration by use of the Major Bowles system. This employed a timekeeper who after 3 minutes sounded a loud gong to let the speaker know his time was up. These early barbeques were held in our present day tourist park, but without benefit of some of the amenities that we enjoy today. This included the large stone oven that didn’t come along until 1938. The tons of meat served at the barbeques of 1935, 36, and 37 was roasted in large open pits dug in the ground at the serving site. According to a number of old-timers, the meat once wrapped and placed on the coals, was covered with sand and allowed to roast. They attested to its great taste, but stated they often times had to contend with the grit of a little sand. In 1938 that all changed. Utilizing depression WPA funds, Mackay officials decided to up-grade the tourist park including construction of a covered grandstand and speaker’s platform, some ball fields, a swimming hole for kids, and a large stone barbeque oven. According to an article in the August 25, 1938 issue of the Mackay Miner, construction was started on the huge stone barbeque oven, the largest of its kind to be built within the state. Two shifts of (6) men each were working hard to have it completed in time for the annual event in mid September. By Sept. 8 th the oven was complete. It measured 12 feet by 12 feet and nearly 11 feet high with exterior walls of lava rock and a concrete top. Its dome topped firebox and roasting chamber of fire brick measured 4 ft. wide, 7 ft. high, and 7 ft. deep and was provided with a roll-in (5) tiered meat rack and included a pair of heavy metal hinged doors to seal the cooking chamber. Its design was based on a definite firing and roasting procedure. This included maintaining a large wood fire in a slide out metal ash pan within the firebox for about 24 hours. The ash pan and fire remnants were then removed and the loaded, roll-in meat racks pushed into the very hot roasting chamber, the metal doors of the chamber closed and sealed, and the chimney flue sealed off.

The residual heat within the oven’s walls provided the ideal conditions for slow roasting and in about 10-12 hours the doors were unsealed and the meat readied for cutting and serving. The inaugural loading of the new oven for that 1938 free barbeque included 3 steers, and 7 lambs and a crowd estimated at nearly 3000-3500 turned out to share in the feast. This large stone oven proved to be a great success that September of 1938, and at every annual barbeque event to-date. Except for the World War II years of 1943, 44, and 45, Mackay’s free barbeque affair has highlighted everyone’s calendar of events each September since 1935. In the 77 years since its construction it has required many a repair of one kind or another, but year after year it has always come through and done the job. A major renovation of the oven was completed in 2002 thanks to a grant from the Idaho Heritage Trust. Today marks the 76th annual “Tons of meat, it’s Mackay’s treat” free barbeque. Hope you enjoy yourself.