Rep. Betty Brown’s Burger Battle
Vince Leibowitz | Jan 16, 2007 | Comments 2
A lot of bloggers and journalists have been critical of State Rep. Betty Brown’s (R-Terrell) proposed resolution which would name Athens the original home of the hamburger.
I’ve not gone that route because, quite frankly, this type of resolution is a source of community pride and every representative does it at one time or another. It’s a fact of legislative life. That said, few end up being controversial (save Rep. Tom Moore’s April Fool’s joke concerning the Boston Strangler back in the 1970s which still makes the rounds via email).
Anyway, Rep. Brown’s resolution seems to have ignited a bit of a national firestorm:
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A burger battle is brewing between a Texas state legislator and the owners of Louis’ Lunch, a restaurant established in 1895, where it has been claimed that the hamburger was invented.
However, with the new session of the Texas legislature now under way, Republican State Rep. Betty Brown has proposed a resolution declaring Athens, Texas, is the original home of the hamburger.
The interesting thing about this one is that Texas actually seems to have the best evidence in the debate:
Brown, an Athens resident, says that a long ago resident of the town, Fletcher Davis, had a luncheonette in the late 1880s and sold the first burgers there.
A magazine article also suggests that Davis not only created the hamburger, but sold it from a booth at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904.
Even Wikipedia places a lot of stock in the Texas case.
The Easterners, of course, want the last word:
“We are even the birthplace of George Bush, who wants people to think he’s from Texas. So yes, the hamburger is as much a New Haven original as President Bush,” DeStefano said. “Get over it, Texas.”
While we might side with the Dixie Chicks in not wanting to claim too loudly that Bush is a Texan, we think perhaps that the New Haveners should get over it themselves. I seriously doubt that the result of Rep. Brown’s resolution would drag many visitors away from New Haven.
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Filed Under: 80th Legislature
I dont mind the burger battle, but I do wish Rep Brown would do more to let her district know where she stands on issues.
Here are some FACTS surrounding the invention of the hamburger:
The earliest patent for the hinged broiler came from William Perkins from the New Haven Wire Goods Co. 256 Water St. New Haven, CT he received patent # 408,136 on July 30, 1889. His original application was filed October 22, 1888. My Great Uncle Luigi Pieragostini worked at New Haven Wire Co. too (later called American Steel & Wire I think?). Luigi improved on the original invention of W. C. Perkins to fit the vertical gas powered Bridge, Beach & Co. Stove & then applied for a patent on his own hinged broiler receiving patent # 2,148,879 on February 28, 1939. From what I could find, Luigi (patent in son’s name Tazio) invented the first hinged broiler designed specifically for vertical use (both sides cooking at same time). This allowed for a rapid cooking time while minimizing counter space. This is exactly the same broiler & gas oven in use at Louis’ Lunch today.
Perkins’ broiler was designed to be flipped over cooking one side at a time. I can imagine that with limited counter space, & everyone wanting a hamburger sandwich during lunch, it wasn’t long before Great Grandfather Louis Lassen asked the New Haven Wire Co. (Perkins & Pieragostini) to come up with something that he could use to make dozens at a time & take up as little space as possible too. Necessity is the Mother of invention, right?
So, here is your proof that as early as 1888, in New Haven, CT, there existed a broiler device to handle a dozen hamburger’s at a time. This information from the U.S. Patent office will certainly help to protect your claim as being the first to invent (accidentally) the hamburger sandwich back in 1900. ALL of the necessary elements to substantiate your claim exist in the U.S. Patent Office. Your Great Grandfather had the place, meat & customers. The technology to cook the burger sandwich was also available in New Haven & patent protected as early as 1888 by Perkins & through the 1950’s by Pieragostini!!
Sincerely,
Thomas Pieragostini
Trumbull, CT
203-243-5855