A Damp But Delicious Day

Will Cosby won the Pie Contest with his Ginger Apple “Moose” Pie.

The Hawley Gentlemen’s Pie and Tart Extravaganza took place on a rainy day—but the dampness didn’t seem to affect anyone’s fun.
The pies arrived on time.

Our three judges (only two are pictured below; the other got lost in West Hawley and will show up in a later photo!) took their job very seriously and deliberated long and hard.

While the judging took place most of the crowd huddled indoors. A few brave souls ventured out to investigate Hawley’s lovely (if wet) scenery and history.

After the judging session lunch was served to an appreciative crowd of all ages.

The pie parade followed.

Musical director Alice Parker took the name “Alfred” for the day so she could enter the contest.

Some contestants entered more than one pie.

The musical entertainment staged a re-enactment of the first men’s pie contest in Hawley. Winner Clarence Gould was forced to learn to make pie because his fiancée Nettie King couldn’t handle pastry.

The contestants anxiously awaited the results.

Finally, Will Cosby of Hawley was crowned the King of Pie and given his own Pie Apron.

In short, a good time was had by all! Thanks to our donors and sponsors, to our diligent judges—Doris Cooper, Darra Goldstein, and Kathleen Wall—and to all who came! Special thanks as well to the lunch crew and to the wonderful people who took the photographs on this page: Georgette de Friesse, Suzy Groden, and Mardi Smith. By the way, Judge Kathleen has posted an essay about her part in the day. If you’ve ever contemplated judging a pie contest, here are her words of wisdom.

If you’d like to hear Tinky talk about the Extravaganza on the Bill Newman radio show (her interview was a preview of the event; we hope lots of people heard it and attended!), click here. Tinky’s segment begins at about 45:50.

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The Hawley Gentlemen’s Pie and Tart Extravaganza

The next Pudding Festival won’t take place until 2019. We DO have a fun food-oriented contest coming up in the fall of 2016–with a twist!

The Record Book of the Ladies Aid Society of Hawley, Massachusetts, includes “A Sketch of the Ladies Aid,” written about 1920 by Mattie Carter White. Mrs. White wrote:

At one time there was a contest for the women sawing wood. The men had a pie baking contest. Mr. Clarence Gould got the prize for making the best pie.

Several gentlemen in town have asked for a revival of the pie-baking contest. (No ladies have asked for a revival of the wood-sawing tradition.) And so in October we plan to re-introduce THE HAWLEY GENTLEMEN’S PIE AND TART EXTRAVAGANZA.

The contest will take place on October 9, the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend, at the Hawley Meeting House. The day will start with the arrival of the pies (due by 11 a.m., please!) at the Hawley Grove, across the road from the meeting house. While the judges deliberate, starting at 11:15, tours of nearby historical sites will be available for contestants and fans.

A delicious lunch hand-prepared by Hawley’s finest cooks will follow at 12:30 at the Grove. At about 1:30 (or whenever everyone has finished lunch), we will repair to the Meeting House for the Pie Parade, a brief musical entertainment, and the announcement of the winners!

Of course, men and boys outside Hawley are welcome to compete as well. Admission to the Extravaganza is free, although there is a $15 entry fee for the contest, and we request a donation for lunch. (We’d love other donations as well, of course, since the Meeting House restoration is an ongoing process.)

Start polishing those pie recipes! Please contact us if you have any questions.

And if you’d like a preview (with pies!), here’s a video. The recipe for Michael’s pie (and a link to the recipe for Tinky’s) may be found here.

 

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