Death of McSorley's Matty Maher-- Part 3: About Those Chicken Wings and Women

In the last post, I mentioned that there was a collection of chicken wings in New York City's McSorley's.  It would seem that this would be something a bit out of the ordinary in a bar.  And it is.

Matty Maher would explain that they dated to World War I, when departing doughboys, after finishing their last full meal stateside, would hang the bones above the bar as a good luck wish that they would return safely.

In 1970, Mayor John V. Lindsay signed legislation barring discrimination in public places because of gender.  Altercations erupted at McSorley's between longtime customers and the female newcomers.

"I'm afraid it will be this way for a few days," Maher said.    If anything, he continued, it helped business.  But it took until 1986 before McSorley's added a female bathroom

History Wears a White Suit-- Part 2: Col. Harlan Sanders

Harlan Sanders was born in southern Indiana and moved to Corbin, Kentucky in the early days of the Great depression to work a service station where he sold fried chicken to travelers as a side job.  Word spread of how good his chicken was and business boomed.

He eventually expanded the gas station to include a larger cafe and a motel.  The restaurant has been restored to its 1950s appearance but customers order KFC in a modern addition.  The place also has lots of memorabilia.

Starting in the 1950s, Col. Harlan Sanders began going around to places selling bags of his secret eleven herbs and spices along with customized pressure cookers.  Joe Ledington, a nephew of the Colonel's said: "He'd put four or five in the trunk of his car and head out selling those pressure cookers.  he never had a penny to his name until he was 65 years old."

--CooterColonel

History Wears a White Suit-- Part 1: Col. Sanders and KFC

From the September 11, 2016, Chicago Tribune  by Jay Jones.

"You might not have heard of Harland Sanders Cafe, but   you certainly know the famous fried chicken first served here more than 75 years ago.

"This  unassuming restaurant in a small town in southeast Kentucky is where Col. Harland Sanders perfected his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices and launched what would become Kentucky Fried Chicken, a corporate giant with nearly 20,000 outlets around the globe."

The white frame restaurant was built in 1940 in Corbin, Kentucky, and is on the NRHP.  We were driving on I-75 through the area and saw a sign for the place and just had to pull off the road and visit it.  I'm a fan but I do like Popeye's Chicken and Jewel chicken better.

The restaurant itself has been restored to its 1950s look and you can buy some chicken to eat in an addition to the place, which we had to do.

--ColCooter

Chicken Thieves in Esmond, Illinois, in 1943

From the September 12, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, IL)  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Chicken thieves are operating in Esmond according to reports from several  homes.  Harry Gustafson, living a mile north of Esmond, lost over 100 chickens one night during the past week.  He heard the thieves and put on the yard light, which he now says was a mistake.

"He managed to reach his car  and chased the thieves to the Greenway school house a mile west of his place, but he lost track of the car at the four corners.  A few nights earlier Clarence Barry reported 60 chickens taken from his place and Mr. Nelson also reports the loss of 40 hens.

Dirty, Rotten Chicken Thieves.  Probably Nazi Saboteurs.

A Klucking Shame!!!  --Cooter

Chickens On the Lam in DeKalb in 1918

From the July 11, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The DeKalb police department has again been bothered the last few days by calls regarding chickens, large ones and small ones.

"At this time of the year, it is absolutely necessary that all people keep chickens shut up within yards and coops to allow the growing of garden stuff."

A Chick Chick Here, A Chick Chick ....  --Cooter

Chicken Thieves in Waterman, Illinois, in 1917

From the November 1, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"The Chronicle office received communication from Miss Agnes Mullen of Waterman to the effect that chicken thieves were operating in that vicinity and desired the paper to give publicity to the fact.

"According to the communication several chickens were stolen recently and the vicinity is up in arms against chicken thieves."

Gimme Back My Chickens.  --Cooter

Founder of Chick-Fil-A S. Truett Cathy, Died in 2014

From the September 8, 2014, Yahoo! News.

Mr. Cathy, 93, was a devout Southern Baptist who founded the company in 1987.  It now has 1,800 locations in 40 U.S. states.  In keeping with his religious beliefs, all are closed on Sundays.

I must admit I love their cow advertising.