A big pig.
A hog, in fact.
Named Fred.
Fred was the big pig that Last Chance House bought to roast Saturday night for Sunday afternoon’s pig roast at the Dole Mansion.
The roasting started at 3 AM at the Last Chance House on Route 176 across from Veterans Acres.
The guys doing the work first stuffed it with Italian sausage.
Even though I married into an Italian family, it’s too spicy for me.
I’m more of a bratwurst kind of guy.
Fewer spices for one with a bland English heritage.
“It went up at 3:45,” Gerry Winkelman told me when I asked where the roast pork was.
He told me there was “a grease fire from the Italian sausage.”
“The police got there right away.
“Then the firemen came.”
One of the responders said, “It’s going to blow up.
“It’s not going to blowup,” Winkelman replied.
“It’s a pig.”
The Last Chance House leader informed them that they needed the pig to feed 400 people on Sunday afternoon.
The lead fireman told him not to worry, that they would work with him.
The lead fireman told the rookie to aim the fire extinguisher at the flames below the rotisserie, but the pig got the brunt of the blast.
The fire was put out.
Even though the firemen said the extinguisher was non-toxic, the Last Chance House folks didn’t want to take any chances, so had to scramble with Sam’s Club and, perhaps, other stores to find hamburgers, Italian sausage, bratwurst, and fixings to feed those expected.
They had to scurry up grills on which to cook the meat.
“Poor Fred,” Winkelman said. “We named him.
“We prayed over Fred.
“We were very respectful. After all, the pig gave everything to this cause.
“God has a way of humbling all of us,” he added.
After taking four plates of food home to my family, I went over to see Fred.
Even though he wasn’t thoroughly cooked, he smelled good to me. I think the bucket is full of grease, but I didn’t dip my finger in to see.
Next time, though, I home the guys leave out the Italian sausage… especially if it is as spicy as the sausage they served at the Dole Mansion.
The band Second Time Around provided the music. People were sitting out front beneath the shade provided by the trees.
I can tell you the band’s speakers were not nearly as loud as those at Lakeside Festival and the Crystal Lake Gala.
Last Chance House is one of three highly structured re-integration into society facilities for alcoholic men in the Chicago area. The others–the models–are in Chicago and Des Plaines.
Those who started the effort in Crystal Lake are from the area towns. Winkelman is from Algonquin, for instance.
They started Last Chance House because they want to give back some of what they have been given.
Incidentally, this was a fund raiser for the organization and they obviously took a hit—a $400 loss—on the pig. Those who would like to contribute to the group can do so online at its web site. You can see the house and make a donation on the linked page.
Coincidentally, the 60th anniversary of the Crystal Lake Alcoholics Anonymous group was being celebrated at the First United Methodist Church Sunday after noon after church was completed while the Dole Mansion picnic was taking place.. I was told the AA had met at the church for 55 years.
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One of my daughter Alexandra’s favorite books was entitled, “Big Pig.” I found it on a book display at a Springfield Eisner’s, which was owned by Jewel at that time in 1983. The book had lots of rhymes about animals like that. She loved the alliteration. I wish I could find it again. I’d put it in that chest of memories I have for her.
All photographs can be enlarged by clicking on them.