The county of Isle of Wight, in the US state of Virginia, is home to a curious museum that receives numerous visitors attracted by the unofficial mascot of the place, a centenarian celebrity also known for his lively activity on Twitter. It’s a cured hamhas just turned 120 and it is believed that he is not only the oldest in the world preserved, it is also still edible. At least in theory.
With an aspect of mummified leather, the ham has just turned 120 years old
The aforementioned is not baptized -although he is sometimes nicknamed Methuselah -(Methuselah)-, it is simply the ham. Everyone in the county knows and is proud of this piece of history that they have acquired own personality, especially with the rise of the internet and social networks, and is even treated with some affection. This summer his birthday was celebrated in style and it is especially popular with children, for whom the museum organizes many activities, including a visit from Santa Claus at Christmas.
The old chacina does not have a very appetizing current look, rather reminiscent of a mummy or a strange piece of dried leather, but that does not seem to detract from its charm. It is the star of the humble local museum, a symbol of the city and an icon of the county’s own history and culture, since the small town of smithfield is famous throughout the country for its centennial production of hams and other pork products.
The lost ham turned into a pet
the local company Gwaltney Foods, founded in 1870 and still in business today under the ownership of Smithfield Foods, led the production of pork-derived foods with the development of curing and canning meats at a time when refrigeration systems were not yet available to the general population. their houses. Dry-cured meat allowed long-term preservation without health risks, in the same way as our Iberian ham or Parma prosciutto.
The record-setting ham we are dealing with was cured during production in 1902, but something must have happened at that time, since it remained forgotten in a warehouse for years. Until, two decades later, the heir to the company Pembroke D. Gwaltney Jr. he rediscovered it by chance, verifying, with great enthusiasm, its good state of conservation. And he quickly saw his potential as a promotional star for his brand.
The idea of making it your own company advertising mascot it was literal, as he did not hesitate to put a kind of brass necklace on it with a chain and dedicated himself to walking it through various fairs and exhibitions boasting of the quality of his company, thus demonstrating that the curing process allowed the meat to be perfectly preserved without being refrigerated .
The ‘pet ham’ quickly became popular in the sector and also among the population of the county and nearby areas, starring in several articles in the local and specialized press. he acquired own life and, although Gwaltney always defended that he could eat perfectly, they never dared to taste their meat.
The Twitter ham with live webcam
Apparently, the Pembroke enthusiast was not lying, because according to studies by microbiology experts, the old ham still edibleAt least for those who have the stomach to try it. Beyond its appearance similar to a mummified mutant arm, its texture and flavor would probably be too intense for today’s palates. Aged meats have a limit.
Not that it matters either, because no one on the Isle of Wight would dream of “killing” their attraction. For years it has held a privileged place in the county museum, founded in 1976 at the initiative of the citizens themselves to preserve the local historical heritage. In one of the main rooms of the center is today the showcase that houses the ham, heated to control temperature and humidity, framed by two other historic hams, one of them supposedly the largest in the world.
These folks from Pittsburgh came to visit me!@vstpgh #NewFriends pic.twitter.com/pI70kKxzAA
— World’s Oldest Ham (@Worldsoldestham) September 23, 2022
A webcam connected 24 hours a day – call ham cam– broadcast live the life of the hams so that all the curious and fans can be up to date with their adventures, in addition to their twitter accountwhere the ham itself shares its news, the photographs of visitors and the occasional comment on current affairs.
The museum itself also houses prehistoric fossils, tools and historical objects related to the history and culture of the county, recreating the popular life of bygone times and instructing on the pork industry local animal that focuses much of the attention of the institution and the activities it organizes.
Visitors can be photographed next to the ham display case posing with a three-dimensional printed replica, and also meet the other curious inhabitant of the museum, the oldest peanut of the world.
The Ham and its Cut (Gastronomy)
Photos | Isle of Wight County Museum
In DAP | ‘European Ham Tour’: from Iberian to Parma, passing through Prague, this is how ham is cured and made in Europe
In DAP | Euskal txerri: thus the Basque pig saved from extinction with which the sausages that are raffled off the Michelin stars are produced