RISON - Memories are a funny thing… and that’s what spurred this week’s Thanksgiving-themed episode of the Free Range Conversations podcast.
With Thanksgiving feasts on many people’s minds, podcast co-host Roy Phillips thought he remembered a “turkey drop” happening from the old Phoenix Hotel on Main Street in Rison.
What he thought was a turkey drop, not unlike those in Yellville, Arkansas or those depicted on the 1978 sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati,” turned out to be a guinnea drop in Rison.
According to former Cleveland County Herald publisher Stan Sadler, who joins in on the podcast, guinneas were dropped from the second story of the hotel onto Main Street during events known as Merchant Days.
Sadler said dollar bills or small prizes from local businesses would be attached to the birds and people would have to chase them around town to collect the prize.
In the episode streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and on clevelandcountyherald.com, Phillips, Sadler, along with Britt Talent and Douglas Boultinghouse discuss Thanksgiving traditions around Cleveland County.
Sadler recalls times when Cleveland County had a thriving turkey farm business, and when Rison High School football teams would play games on Thanksgiving Day. Strangest of all might have been the time there were two official Thanksgivings.
The hosts also share memories and opinions on food staples in the South. According to Phillips, some in his family have such strong opinions on cranberry sauce they walk out of Thanksgiving dinner.
All episodes of the podcast are available to stream.