Allen Crump and the Pig Pen (Again)

Not a trace remains of the old Pig Pen barbecue restaurant, a Summer Avenue landmark, but luckily a few photos have survived.

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I’m glad I wrote about the Pig Pen in our May issue, because apparently it brought back a lot of fond memories for readers, though no trace of the little barbecue joint remains on Summer today.

Luckily for us, various members of the Crump family have retained photos and other items left over from the restaurant, such as this photo sent to me by descendant Alisa Houseal Botto. It shows Allen Crump, owner of the Pig Pen, apparently engaged in a snowball fight just outside the Pig Pen.

Hard to believe, but that narrow street in the background is Summer Avenue, back when that section just west of National was mainly lined with residences, some of them still serving as private homes, but others converted into businesses.

And look very carefully over Crump’s shoulder, and you can see a portion of the Pig Pen neon sign. What a shame we can’t see more of the building itself, but that’s the way it goes with this column. Just half-pictures of things, blurry images, or no photo at all.

So this is better than nothing, and it shows Crump in a light-hearted moment, so I was glad to see the picture, and happy to share it with my beloved readers.

Thanks again, Alisa!