Week 69: N. J. Harris
- Chandler Museum
A person with a wide variety of skills and knowledge is often referred to as a renaissance person. You may know someone like that or even be one yourself. One of Chandler’s first renaissance men was the son of former slaves who came to Arizona from Mississippi around the turn of the century, Nathan Johnson (NJ) Harris. He was known as a popular restaurateur, chauffeur, photographer, furniture and jewelry maker, silversmith, hunter and fisherman.
The exact date of Harris’ arrival in Chandler is unknown. He was born in Mississippi in 1885. Harris family history holds that he met Dr. Alexander J. Chandler while both were on an African safari, and that Chandler hired Harris on the spot to be his chauffeur. The family believes he may have been a Chandler resident from the very beginning of the town in 1912.
Harris soon became fishing and hunting buddies with one of Chandler’s most prominent residents, sheriff John Hamilton. The two often went out into the desert to hunt doves, bringing them back into town to show off. They were also avid fishermen who spent a lot of time fishing in Roosevelt Lake.
In addition to being an outdoorsman Harris had an artistic side, too. He made turquoise jewelry for his family. He crafted an entire bedroom set from saguaro skeleton, including a bed, chaise lounge, side table, and chest of drawers. Harris made little silver boxes adorned in turquoise, one of which he sent as a gift to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Photography was also a passion of his. He developed his own film and hand colored some of the prints.
Even with all of his various skills and interests, one thing above all else made NJ Harris famous in Chandler – his barbecue recipe. He opened a barbecue restaurant on Saragosa Street in 1932. The building itself was a testament to Harris’ creativity. When the town of Chandler decommissioned their 100,000 gallon water tank, Harris salvaged it and moved it to his property on Saragosa. He cut panels out of the sides to create service windows, built a smoker and kitchen on the back, and opened it as Harris Barbecue.
According to his granddaughter, LaVon Woods, work at the barbecue restaurant would start at 4 am, and the restaurant stayed open until midnight every day. LaVon bragged that she made some of the best tips the restaurant served. Lines formed every evening as people from all over town headed to the Harris Barbecue for dinner. The restaurant remained a popular destination for years.
Described by his granddaughter as a “very quiet man” with a “very powerful presence,” Harris was a man that people around town knew they could go to for advice. Dispensing wisdom was among his favorite activities. He had a soft spot for people who were hard workers but were down on their luck, of which there were many in the early years of the restaurant during the Great Depression. He often fed people who had no funds, and asked only that they pay what they could when they were able. His charity and wisdom made Harris a community leader in the Southside Neighborhood.
NJ Harris passed away in 1958. As Chandler’s first African American entrepreneur and business owner, he left an indelible mark on our community’s history, leaving behind a legacy of artistry, leadership, and great food.