Scrabble (Pixabay)
April 11, 2018 By Tara Law
A local group will be recognizing the 80th anniversary of Scrabble—which was invented in Jackson Heights— with a special tournament this Saturday, April 14th.
Word lovers will gather at 1 p.m. at the Community Church, located at 81-10 35th Ave, for a tournament hosted by the Jackson Heights Beautification Group.
Although the event will honor Scrabble’s 80th anniversary, that date actually honors the year the game was patented by its inventor, Alfred Mosher Butts, according to a New York Times article published in 1995.
Butts, who was born on 79th Street in Jackson Heights, is believed to have invented Scrabble 87 years ago. For several years, he invited friends up to his apartment to try out the game he called “Lexico,” which was played using hand cut tiles.
Today, three out of every five American homes have a Scrabble board, according to Hasbro.
The event will be held in two separate brackets— for teenagers ages 10 to 17 and adults. Places are limited, and seats must be reserved. To register, email Jessica Ramos at jhbgscrabble@gmail.com.
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