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The Waldo Burton Memorial Home opened in 1922
as an orphanage for Protestant boys.
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Photo by Eileen Loh-Harrist
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Hey Blake,
I pass it every day on my way to work at Tulane, and I used to pass it every
day when I lived on Broadway. I grew up in New Orleans and have no idea what
the Burton Memorial is on Carrollton Avenue near the post office. What is it?
Stacey Simmons
Dear Stacey,
The Waldo Burton Memorial Home is a place where boys in need can find care,
support, guidance, and a safe living environment. It had its beginning in 1918
with a gift of $170,000 by William L. Burton, millionaire lumberman and philanthropist.
He wanted to provide for Protestant orphan
baby boys, so he and his wife donated the money to build a home that would also
be a tribute to their own son Waldo who had died in 1914.
It was suggested that he wait to build the
home as prices were high, but he declined. Although hale and hearty, Mr. Burton
was in his 70s and wanted to take no chances of not living to see the home in
working order. He took a great interest in the new building and its grounds
and made frequent visits, even helping to plant the trees.
When the home opened in 1922, it was a while
before the babies arrived, but it became the new residence for a group of 45
boys ages 6 to 16.
Hey Blake,
Once again, I am totally confused. I picked up a pound of CDM coffee and chicory
thinking it was the Cafe du Monde brand. I got home and the next morning brewed
a pot, and the first sip told me things were not as expected. I checked the
package and sure enough right below the bold letters CDM on a banner transversing
the earth were the words "Cafe du Monde." I flipped the package over and found
that it was produced by Reily Foods Company, not Cafe du Monde. What's up with
that?
Ronald Pennison
Dear Ronald,
A delicious New Orleans tradition, CDM coffee is made by Reily Foods, a company
founded in 1902 by William B. Reily. Mr. Reily, before the turn of the century,
operated a wholesale grocery business in Monroe, La. He came to New Orleans
when he saw an opportunity to go into the coffee roasting and grinding business.
Since then, this company has flourished. While it now produces a wide variety
of foods, CDM coffee and two others -- Luzianne Tea and Blue Plate Mayonnaise
-- are names we all grew up with. CDM is the company's abbreviation for the
Cafe du Monde, the New Orleans French Market coffee stand landmark.
If, however, you want what you thought you
were buying, make sure the label says just "Cafe du Monde." This New Orleans
tradition has been in the French Market since 1862, and there's no question
that they do brew a good cup of coffee. And their beignets aren't bad either.
Hey Blake,
Could you please tell me
whom the Timken Center is named after?
Brian Begnaud
Dear Brian,
In 2000, the City Park Casino Building got a new name to go with its new look.
After about a year and a half of renovations designed by the New Orleans architectural
firm of Waggoner and Ball, the facility was renamed in honor of the Timken family
of Canton, Ohio.
The Timken family has been very generous to
City Park. In 1996, the Timken Family Foundation donated 3,500-acre Couba Island,
a marsh island at the northern end of Lake Salvador in St. Charles Parish, from
which the park can reap mineral and oil revenues. The island is valued at more
than $1 million.
Members of the Friends of City Park, the park's
board of commissioners, and other well-wishers joined Sue and Tim Timken who
represented the Foundation when all gathered on Sunday, Jan. 23 to toast, snip
a ribbon, and officially open the center.
Renovations to the center which first opened
in 1913 cost about $2 million. And it was worth every penny.
NOTE: In my column of May 27, I wrote
that the Casino was designed by the firm of Weiss, Dreyfous, and Seiferth. In
fact, it was the work of architects Nolan and Torre
