Welding class mends Methodist Church’s grill in time for annual chicken barbecue

  CARIBOU, Maine — The annual chicken barbecue held at the Gray Memorial United Methodist Church in Caribou was in jeopardy of not taking place this year, due to the unsafe condition of the 20-year-old grill the church uses each year.      Ralph Conroy, director of the Caribou Technology Center, agreed to allow the school’s welding class to take on the project of refurbishing the massive grill, which they successfully completed.
Now that the grill is in once again in working order, the annual barbecue will be held on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church located on the corner of Sweden and Prospect Streets.
The menu consists of half a barbecued chicken slathered in the church’s secret barbecue sauce, the recipe for which was concocted over 50 years ago, potato salad, coleslaw, beans, a roll, fruit cobbler and a beverage.
The cost for the feast is $12. Hungry customers may enjoy their meal on the church grounds or ask for take-out.
Proceeds from the barbecue will benefit the capital campaign fund to be used for renovation of the church, which will celebrate 100 years at its current location this fall.