Annual turkey shoot means liquor, not birds

·  POINT RICHMOND: Festivities include knocking back a shot of Wild Turkey

By Angela Hill

STAFF WRITER

Article Launched: 11/21/2007 03:01:36 AM PST

Thanksgiving is a time for revered traditions and reflective moments. Family and friends come together, toss around the pigskin, think of Pilgrims, count blessings and reach out to those less fortunate.

It is also a time for a bunch of people in Point Richmond, accompanied by a few dogs and the occasional goat, to leave their respective homes on the morning of Thanksgiving Day, gather in the town center, march down to the bar and proceed with the annual Wild Turkey Shoot, an event in which no actual turkeys are harmed, but a lot of Wild Turkeys of the Kentucky straight bourbon persuasion are downed and everyone says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble!" in unison in extremely high falsetto.

Then a poem is read, and they all go home for turkey.

This cherished, if curious, custom has been going on in some form for nearly 30 years and will likely continue until the end of time or until somebody finds something better to do.

"Of course it will continue -- it's tradition!" said Richmond City Councilman Tom Butt, indignant at the thought of a Thanksgiving without the Turkey Shoot.

Butt has been attending this ritual nearly since its inception. He's the one who brings the goats.

"I have four goats on my property for fire abatement, and I usually bring them along," he said. "Although it depends on how many people I can get to help me lead them. It takes about a person per goat."

He ties them up to some bushes across the street from the bar.

"They'll have a little nibble," he said. "It's their holiday treat."

Others have been known to bring their dogs or birds or antique cars, or have dressed up in costume for the occasion. So goats just add to the madness.

The turkey shoot started in the late 1970s, when the Hotel Mac began offering Thanksgiving dinners in its restaurant. The story goes that the owner felt bad that his employees had to work on the holiday. So about midmorning, after they had turkeys roasting and dinner preparations under way, he would take the whole crew down the street to the Spot bar and buy them all a round of Wild Turkey. They would screech, "Gobble, gobble, gobble!" then giggle a little and go back to work.

Over the years, bar patrons and other locals found out and asked whether they could participate. Pretty soon, the group grew to a few dozen people and the tradition was born.

These days, humans and critters assemble in front of the Plunge, Point Richmond's historic natatorium, about 10 a.m. They hang around until a good crowd grows, then they stroll the three blocks or so to the bar.

It's an event for all ages, although those younger than 21 usually are kept outside with the goats. Everyone else goes inside, and a round is ordered. There is a ceremonial countdown of "Three, two, one: Bottoms up!" followed by a slam of glasses on the bar and the ensuing ear-piercing gobbling.

Once upon a time, Butt said, a man named Tom McGowan, who lived in Point Richmond then, wrote the original one. Or was it Walt Kirk, who is still in town, and wrote the latest version? It gets confusing.

"Every year, somebody adds another -- what's four lines of poetry, a verse? A stanza? Anyway, they add to it, but it always ends with the words 'The Turkey Shoot,'" Butt said.

It's now practically an epic, with about 20 stanzas. This year, Pam deWitt, owner of deWitt Gallery and Framing in Point Richmond, was the honored Keeper of the Poem and was kind enough to provide this year's addition.

"Remember," she cautioned," "It's silly!"

"It is the year 2007, the Point looks more and more like heaven. Thanksgiving is the day to hoot, and Wild Turkey is what we shoot.

"Our women are beautiful, our men hirsute, hold glasses high for the Turkey Shoot. Neither a drip do dribble, nor a drop to bobble, ready now? GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBBLE! This is the annual Turkey Shoot!"

OUR NEIGHBORS: CHRIS TREADWAY

Tradition is No. 1 in Point Richmond

Contra Costa Times

Article Launched: 11/20/2007 03:03:15 AM PST

THANKSGIVING DAY typically is a day for staying home with family and friends or visiting them out of town. Point Richmond is something else again. The Point loves tradition, it loves the holidays, and it can't resist a good celebration.

On Thursday morning, Point Richmond will celebrate Thanksgiving with its annual Turkey Shoot, an event that doesn't involve the wild poultry seen lately in many parts of West County. The Turkey Shoot is a long-standing and eccentric Point tradition that starts at 10:15 a.m. with a "parade" of humans and pets from the Richmond Plunge to The Spot, a local establishment at the other end of the village, where participants can purchase and knock back a shot of Wild Turkey or another hard or soft beverage.

The parade will be followed by a reading of the traditional "Turkey Shoot" poem and some time to celebrate life in the Point.

Timed nicely after the morning frivolity are the activities at First United Methodist Church at 201 Martina St. An 11:30 a.m. interfaith service will be followed by the church's annual Thanksgiving feast from 12:15 to 2:15 p.m. Those who want a meal are welcome to come, and those want to help make the feast possible -- whether by volunteering or making a donation -- are welcome to contact Christina de Leon at 510-669-1029.

The Point stays in the holiday spirit this weekend, holding its downtown tree-lighting at 5 p.m. Saturday at Indian Statue Park, located at Washington Avenue and Park Place. The free event will feature music, holiday fun for children and refreshments.