Purchase Tickets
In 1949 invitations were sent for an 80th birthday party for Walter Bellingrath. A makeshift stage of bamboo held Mr. Bellingrath and some family members backing up to the Home while nearly 500 seated guests filled the driveway area in front of what today is the Delchamps Gallery.
To the guests’ amusement, his young nephew and namesake, Walter Bellingrath Edgar appeared costumed like the Sprite Boy. That character had been created in 1942 by illustrator Howard Sundblom who had earlier drawn the familiar Santa Claus image. The Sprite Boy led to the official adoption of “Coke” alongside Coca-Cola.
Walter was pulling his red wagon and in the bed of that wagon was another surprise for his 80 year old uncle: 16 engraved sterling silver loving cups. Judge Ben Turner read a list of the donors while young Robert Edington read the actual inscriptions on each:
1. The State of Alabama, James E. Folsom, Governor.
2. In Recognition of his Outstanding Service to Mobile County, Board of Revenue and Road Commissioners, Mobile County, Alabama
3. In This Symbol We Express To You Our Appreciation of Your High Ideals of Civic Service, Board of Commissioners, City of Mobile
4. Your Montgomery Kith and Kin Salute You, and Wish You Many Happy Returns of the Day on this, Your 80th Birthday. Mary, Elmore, Jean, Suzanne, and Stanhope. (Editor’s note: Walter Belllingrath’s sister-in-law Mary Elmore Bellingrath (1876-1955), daughters, Elmore Bartlett (1911-1992), Jean Lane (1916-1994) and Suzanne von Gal (1920-1991). Stanhope was a brother of Mary Bellingrath and was Secretary-Treasurer of Montgomery Coca-Cola Bottling Co.)
5. With Love and Appreciation for your Accomplishments as a Bottler of Coca-Cola, Floriculturist, and Christian Benefactor. Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Arkansas, by: Mrs. T. L. Bellingrath and Family: Carl, Edward, Ruth, Maude and Elsie. (Editor’s note: Mrs. T. L. Bellingrath was Walter Bellingrath’s sister-in-law, Maude (1890-1954), widow of his brother Theodore Leon (1864-1919). Her children were Carl (1896-1953), Edward (1908-1949), Ruth Hall(1901-1992), Maude Silverman (1904-1982) and the youngest, Elsie Stebbins (1913-2011).
6. Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Selma (Owned by his sister Kate)
7. Associates and Employees of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Mobile, Alabama.
8. Executives and Employees of Bellingrath Gardens.
9. Officers and Employees of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Frisco City (owned by W. D. Bellingrath)
10. Employees of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Biloxi (Also owned by W. D. Bellingrath)
11. Harry Crawford & Associates (Advertising agency with offices in Mobile and Montgomery)
12. Mobile Press-Register (Mr. Bellingrath worked to establish the Mobile Press in 1929. It later absorbed the older Mobile Register.)
13. Radio Station WABB (established by the Mobile Press-Register on June 19, 1948 and owned by the newspaper until 1959.)
14. I. B. Tigrett, President of the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad. Isaac Burton Tigrett (1879-1954) oversaw the merger of the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad with the Mobile and Ohio Railroad in 1940 to create the G. M. & O which he presided over until 1952. Mr. Tigrett’s great nephew and namesake founded the Hard Rock Café chain.
15. Lerio Corporation, originally founded as the Lerio Patent Cup Co. in 1914 by Louis J. Lerio who successfully patented several types of equipment used in the collection of turpentine. Mr. Bellingrath was an investor in the firm and became its president after Mr. Lerio’s death in 1942.
16. The First National Bank. Walter Bellingrath was a director of the bank for many years and it handled the trust he created.
A Special Certificate
The loving cups are on display on the Riverside Dining Porch with another gift presented to Mr. Bell in 1949: a special hand colored certificate from the Liquid Carbonic Corporation which had invented a low pressure method of filling glass bottles with carbonated beverages. The new method reduced the chances of bottles exploding under pressure. Walter Bellingrath purchased the very first system and they sought to honor him for that long relationship. The company is still in existence today as a branch of Praxair. We are grateful for the Mobile Coca-Cola Company for donating this certificate back to Bellingrath Gardens and Home.