National Glazed Ham Day

Today’s Food History

on this day in…

1710 Marie-Anne de Cupis de Camargo was born. Born in Belgium, this ballerina danced with the Paris Opera. Escoffier named many gourmet dishes in her honor.

1854 New York became the first state to fund a study of insects harmful to plants.

1874 George Harrison Shull was born. An American botanist, frequently called the ‘father of hybrid corn.’

1878 Harley Proctor created Ivory Soap.

1912 John Jacob Astor IV died. Great grandson of John Jacob Astor, who founded the family fortune. John Jacob IV built the Astoria section of what would become the Waldorf Astoria Hotel (1897) in New York city (this was on the site that were the Empire State building would be built in 1929). He also built the Knickerbocker and the St. Regis hotels. He died on the Titanic.

1951 Household hints columnist, Heloise, was born in Waco, Texas.

1955 The first franchised McDonald’s was opened in Des Plaines, Illinois, by Ray Kroc, who bought the hamburger restaurant owned by the McDonald brothers. On opening day a 2 patty hamburger was 15 cents and French Fries were 10 cents