Whitt's Barbecue

Floyd Whitt had an unusual pastime of creating BBQ pits in the 1950s and 1960s. Floyd, a renowned bricklayer in the Tennessee Valley, tried out many pit configurations and sauce recipes before he nailed down the Southern barbecue cooking method. As nearby neighbors smelled the hickory-smoked meat while passing by, they stopped to look, smell, and buy. Instead, Floyd and his wife Laura distributed samples and just requested feedback. The concept that Laura had of constructing a tiny structure in their backyard and cooking and selling enough barbeque to pay for their four children's college education has become a beloved tradition.