Louisiana Purchase Exposition 1904 (St. Louis World's Fair)
Legend has it, that the Athens community was so impressed with Fletcher’s (“Uncle Fletch’s”) sandwich, that they raised money to send him and “Aunt Ciddy” to the LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION, known as the “1904 St. Louis (Missouri) World’s Fair”.
However, stories vary as to what really took place concerning this World’s Fair, Uncle Fletch and the hamburger. Some say that he and Aunt Ciddy went on their own with the help from the Athens people, which is most likely correct. Evidently, individuals could not enter as a vendor without the sponsorship of a company. The Vendor Admission Pass Book, belonging to Uncle Fletch proves this. The company indicated on this Book is “W. S. Ceramic Co” and he was listed as a “Pottery Turner”. This book, along with his picture identification and remaining daily admission tickets are in the possession of one of his great nephews, Harvey Allison. How Uncle Fletch was able to set up as a vendor and serve the hamburger is unknown. Supposedly, there is a newspaper picture identifying his concession stand and its exact location on “The Pike” which was the World’s Fair Midway.
As a food vendor, Uncle Fletch cooked and served the ground beef sandwich, topped with onion and pickle, as he did in Athens. He also served a cut up Irish potato that was fried. When asked by a newspaper reporter about the fried potatoes, he replied that a friend in Paris, Texas had told him how to make them. The reporter misunderstood the “Paris, Texas” and reported it as Paris, France and that Uncle Fletch also served French Fries with his hamburger.
While at the World’s Fair, Uncle Fletch and Aunt Ciddy rented a small house in Websters Grove, a suburb of St. Louis. McKindree Miller, son of Pearl and Brosia Miller, related the story about going with his parents to the World’s Fair and that they stayed with Uncle Fletch and Aunt Ciddy in this house. McKindree was only 10 years old at the time, but he remembered that they went to the Fair every day.
However, stories vary as to what really took place concerning this World’s Fair, Uncle Fletch and the hamburger. Some say that he and Aunt Ciddy went on their own with the help from the Athens people, which is most likely correct. Evidently, individuals could not enter as a vendor without the sponsorship of a company. The Vendor Admission Pass Book, belonging to Uncle Fletch proves this. The company indicated on this Book is “W. S. Ceramic Co” and he was listed as a “Pottery Turner”. This book, along with his picture identification and remaining daily admission tickets are in the possession of one of his great nephews, Harvey Allison. How Uncle Fletch was able to set up as a vendor and serve the hamburger is unknown. Supposedly, there is a newspaper picture identifying his concession stand and its exact location on “The Pike” which was the World’s Fair Midway.
As a food vendor, Uncle Fletch cooked and served the ground beef sandwich, topped with onion and pickle, as he did in Athens. He also served a cut up Irish potato that was fried. When asked by a newspaper reporter about the fried potatoes, he replied that a friend in Paris, Texas had told him how to make them. The reporter misunderstood the “Paris, Texas” and reported it as Paris, France and that Uncle Fletch also served French Fries with his hamburger.
While at the World’s Fair, Uncle Fletch and Aunt Ciddy rented a small house in Websters Grove, a suburb of St. Louis. McKindree Miller, son of Pearl and Brosia Miller, related the story about going with his parents to the World’s Fair and that they stayed with Uncle Fletch and Aunt Ciddy in this house. McKindree was only 10 years old at the time, but he remembered that they went to the Fair every day.