The Birthplace of the Hamburger?

Out of curiosity I thought I'd take a dive into the history and origins of a real American Icon and game day staple, the hamburger. So I curated this blog to summarize my research and come to the definitive conclusion of the birthplace of the hamburger. 

   If you're a foodie you might like this citizen journalism I put together. And if your just curious, looking for a fun read, well I have you covered too. 

First; our candidates and their case. 

     A Texas historian credits Fletcher Davis with the first version of the hamburger in Austin Texas in the 1880's. However, He didn't serve his creation to a larger audience untill the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair. 

      Charlie Nagreen is recognized by the Seymour Community Historical society for the first hamburger at the 1885 Seymour Fair in Wisconsin. At 15 years old he decided to flatten meatballs to make it easier for people to eat while walking. 

They called him Hamburger Charlie,... allegedly. 

       Oscar Bilby of Tulsa Oklahoma

is credited with serving the first hamburger on his wife's home made buns. On July 4 1891 at a party at his home in Athens Texas. The meal was talked about all over town, and the party became famous because of it. 

     An add in a newspaper from 1894 mentions a hamburger sandwich available at Barney's Saloon in Moulton Texas. Pumpernickel bread is rumored to be the bread. 

     The Library of Congress recognizes Louis Lassen of Louis' Lunch Wagon as selling the first hamburger and steak sandwichs in 1895, in New Haven Connecticut. But some say this was propaganda to steal the claim away from another famous location. 

This story is clearly biased though. It was common for long established Eastern states to claim responsibility for invitations created in farther west, newer states and territories at the time.

   There is even an example of Hamburg New York claiming that the Menches Brothers created the first Hamburger there in 1885 at the Erie County fair. However, in Frank Menches obituary in the New York Times it cites the Menches creation of the hamburger taking place in 1892 at the Akron Fair, in Ohio, where the Menches are from. Hmmm.. Which opens your eyes about the sham NY hamburger claims, because why would anyone from Ohio name anything after another place. 

   Side notes; most of the hamburger sandwiches mentioned are just that, sandwiches. Infact, in the 1880's and even today those "sandwiches" in Texas were called patty melts more commonly than hamburgers. Additionally sandwiches are served on slices of common loaf bread. 

    Rolls and Buns were a more refined type of bread and would have been recognized as such. So historically if someone were to offer a roll or a bun it might stand out as much as the item itself. 

     With that being said we have to consider what a hamburger is, juicy beef patty and a nice bun or roll are the two components that are universally recognized when we think about a hamburger. 

My considerations, and verdict. 

    Through this journey I've come to a conclusion. I think. The hamburgers mentioned in Austin, Seymour, New Haven and "Fugazie" New York, (despite the Library of Congress and the Seymour Historical Society recognition) are all sandwiches. 

     I think it's clear that the oldest recorded example of the hamburger as we know it does in fact belong to Oscar Bilby and his wife's hot buns. Those buns made such an impression they were mentioned just as much as the beef patty served at that party in Athens Texas by the couple from Tulsa Oklahoma. And it is the earliest record of an all beef pattie on a bun in American history. 

     More so fitting, the party that those hamburgers were served at took place on July 4 1891. So the birthday of a true American Icon is the same day as the home of the free and the land of the brave? Only fitting in my opinion. 

     America, Tom Cruise and the Hamburger, all born on the 4th of July!

I believe we have to say, Athens Texas is the definitive birthplace of the hamburger as we know it today. 

 

Now, here's a free footnote; 

If you're a cheeseburger fan you can thank Lionel Sternberg at the Rite Spot in Pasadena California in 1924.