Chatham Rabbits
At the turn of the twentieth-century, Chatham became known for its seemingly endless supply of large cottontail rabbits.
Local boys would catch rabbits in traps known as “rabbit boxes” and then sell them to be distributed across the country. In fact, Siler City became the one of the largest distributors of rabbit in the country in the early 1900s and “Chatham Rabbit'' appeared as a succulent delicacy on menus as far as New England.
Since then, rabbits have become synonymous with local Chathamites and a popular county mascot for local bands, teams, and businesses.
A 1915 newspaper ad for "Chatham Rabbit" Flour. The rabbit became so symbolic of the county by the early-1900s that it appeared in the names of local products, such as this flour brand from the Siler-based Electric Milling Co.
"Elections may come and elections may go, but the Chatham Rabbit stays with us forever... Great is the Chatham Rabbit!"
- The Siler City Grit, 1914
Album cover for the Chatham Rabbits, a band formerly based in Bynum. The duo share their name with a string band which used to work at the Bynum Mill in the early 1900s.
Listen to the Recordings
Lyn Perry
A Thriving Population
Description:
Perry remembers the thriving populations of rabbits that once lived in the county.
Transcript:
Lyle Donaldson
An Old Saying
Description:
Donaldson recalls getting paid to catch rabbits in rabbit boxes growing up
Transcript:
Barbara Pugh
False Teeth
Description:
Pugh recounts her father's attempt to pay for his false teeth with a rabbit dog
Transcript:
Cali Powell
Have to Go Back
Description:
Powell describes Chatham Rabbits as a distant memory
Transcript:
Harry Lindley
Huntin' for Rabbits
Description:
Lindley remembers large rabbit hunts which would occur on holidays
Transcript:
Mark Ellington
Rabbit Boxes
Description:
Ellington discusses how his father caught rabbits with "rabbit boxes"
Transcript:
Larry Smith
Rabbit Dogs
Description:
Smith recalls the distant history of Chatham's rabbit craze
Transcript:
Andy Pugh
Railcars of Rabbits
Description:
Pugh talks about the evolution of Chatham rabbits from cash crop to mascot
Transcript:
Amanda Clark
Singing Rabbits
Description:
Clark discusses Chatham Rabbits and the band of the same name
Transcript:
Shorty Cash
Skin a Rabbit
Description:
Cash talks about the history of Chatham's rabbits and how they were packaged
Transcript:
Robert Russell Webster
Twenty Cents
Description:
Webster talks about how his father made money off of Chatham's cash crop