Athens Review, Athens, Texas

Local News

Discussion

January 16, 2007

Battle of the burger

Brown wants Athens to have official burger

Associated Press Associated Press

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.

Brown, who represents Athens and Henderson County, 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. A spokeswoman in Brown’s office said she is proposing the resolution on behalf of the Athens Chamber of Commerce,

Those claims are not sitting well with Ken Lassen Sr., 89, the third-generation owner of Louis’ Lunch, where he says his grandfather came up with the first hamburger.

Lassen said it happened in 1900 when a man rushed into Louis’ and asked for something he could eat on the run. Louis Lassen, Ken Lassen’s grandfather, grabbed a broiled beef patty and put it between two slices of bread.

Lassen notes there is the official designation of Louis’ Lunch as the burger birthplace, cited by the Library of Congress, under a resolution initiated by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn.

Mayor John DeStefano Jr., very much an advocate for his city, is backing the Lassens and their claims.

“It’s a well-known and established fact that New Haven is the home of the hamburger. In fact, New Haven’s claim to the hamburger is even supported and documented in the Library of Congress,” DeStefano said.

DeStefano notes that New Haven has been a cradle of creativity, as the birthplace of the cotton gin, the first rubber tires, the corkscrew, the Frisbee, lollipops, Erector Sets and pizza.

“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.”

Text Only
Local News
  • kengeeslin_profile.jpg Geeslin under fire

    Henderson County Attorney Clint Davis, has asked the Texas Rangers to look into a complaint filed against Precinct 4 County Commissioner Ken Geeslin by one of his employees. 
    Three witnesses agree that a verbal altercation occurred at the precinct barn on Jan. 11.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Juneteenth.JPG Early planning!

    It was  June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. A ship pulled into the Galveston port and Major Gen. Gordon Granger reads Orders, No. 3 to the people of Galveston.
    “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.  The freed men are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages.  They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”
    With the reading of this order, slavery was ended in Texas, and Juneteenth was created.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Bro. Henry Lusk.jpg Remembering Pastor Lusk

    Henry Lusk was a man who sold hardware during the week, and preached about the carpenter of Nazareth on Sundays.
    Lusk died Wednesday after a bout with cancer. He had pastored the Athens Church of God for about 6-1/2 years, and was manager of Athens Lumber and Supply for 29 years. Church members remembered him Friday as a energetic Bible preacher and caring pastor.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • 2-3 Rotary grant recipients pic.jpg Athens Rotary Club presents grants for public service

    The Athens Rotary Club presented grants to several organizations for their public service, Thursday. Pictured, left to right are club members and representatives of the organizations recognized. They are: Doug Scala, Rotary; Debbie Zea, Meals on Wheels; Mark Roberts, Henderson County Performing Arts Center; Ray Talbot, Labor of Love; Kathleen Lilly, Cain Foundation; Jean Riggs, Cain Center; Charla Hendrix, Leslie Saunders, Sarah Grey, Athens Independent School District; Carol Morton, Keep Athens Beautiful; Robert Nelson; Karen Whitton, Food Pantry; and Kyle Rocha, Cain Center.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Hampton.jpg Murder’s conviction affirmed by the Court of Appeals

    The Twelfth Court of Appeals in Tyler this week affirmed James Arlie Hampton’s murder conviction from December of 2010.
    Hampton was convicted, and sentenced to life in prison by a Henderson County jury for the murder of Corey David, who had been a guest in Hampton’s home. 

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Airport Board discusses Loop 7 sign

    The Athens Airport Advisory Board held a preliminary discussion on putting up a sign on Loop 7 at a regular session, Thursday.

    February 3, 2012

  • Oglesby..JPG Beloved teacher Oglesby dies suddenly

    An Athens Middle School teacher who died Wednesday from a recent illness cared about his craft, and the 8th graders he taught.
    Thomas Oglesby, 64, taught in the Athens Independent School District for more than 20 years.  He specialized in language arts, and even did a little coaching on the side.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Athens Rotary tenders grants

    The Athens Rotary Club gave grants to several organizations, Thursday, in recognition of community service.
      Robert Nelson presided over the presentation of gifts ranging from $500 to $1,500 to help the groups in their services which included endeavors like feeding the hungry, home improvement and community theater.

    February 2, 2012

  • Deputies answer call for stolen copper from Oncor in Mabank

    MABANK     — Henderson County Sheriff’s Department officers answered another call on Jan. 26 concerning the theft of still more copper wire, this time from Oncor at 13680 County Road 2925 in this community.

    February 2, 2012

  • Man, woman arrested for burglary north of Murchison

    Henderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call reporting trespassing on property north of Murchison Wednesday. The deputies arrested a man and a woman for burglary.

    February 2, 2012