The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-05-03
Lorenzo D. Cole.

Lorenzo D. Cole, the old and well known
restaurant proprietor of this city, died in New
York Monday, and his funeral will take place
from the Second Parish church in Portland
Thursday.
Mr.. Cole was born in Paris, Oxford county,
in 1905, and when about IS years of age was
sent to Portland by his father to the care of the
late Alpheus Shaw, who was constituted his
guardian. Mr.. Cole entered Mr.. Shaw's store
as clerk, and showed himself bright and &C.
tive. He remained with Mr.. Shaw until 1888
when he opened candy store and restaurant
combined on Union street, with Mr.. Jacob
Rolfe, under the firm style Of Rolfe & Cole.
This was the only eating-house of pretension
at that time, although there were other mon in
the business. They were for the most part,
caterers for parties. The firm not only kept
an eating-house but they supplied other estab-
lishments outside. In 1910 they moved to Ex.
change street and extended their business.
The restaurants at tho railroad stations were
provided with all their cooked meats and
pastry as were the city bakers from Role &
Cole. They obtained an enyiable reputation
for their pastry, and it was considered the COR
rect thing to drop in to Coles at noon and have
a tart or turnover and glass Of milk. Mr..
after they moved on to Exchange street, and
the style was changed to Role, Cole & Co.
Later Mr.. Rolfe died, and for long time the
familiar sign, read L. D. Cole. Besides the
fame the firm aequ ired for Its pastry Mr.. Cole
introduced the custom of furnishing hot baked
peanuts at certain hour every day, and there
is probably not a man or woman forty years
of age, Portland born and bred, but what has
at some time in their boyhood and girlhood,
visited Coles for hot peanuts. Now the tooth
some commodity is common on every street
corner.
,-r. Cole accumulated handsome property,
estimating his estate at $4,000 when the great
fire of 1866 took place. He had houses on
Franklin, Oxford and Quincy streets He was :
one of the largest owners in the old Free st.
Theatre, now Free street CHI urch. He was the
hacker of the celebrated "Battle Of Bunker
Hip exhibition which travelled through the
country in 1910 with Mr.. W. G.. Twombley as
manager, making money and reputation every
where. When the show exhibited in Portland
Mr.. John Morgan, the we'll known tenor, was
u 10y anu pldyou tu0 WAiooOo LA AAiie atiou VI
the canary birds singing. The fire of 1866 was
a terrible blow to Mr.. Cole. His real estate
was consumed and he lost over half his money.
He took store in the Prsble block on Ex-
change street but finally retired and went to
New York whore he resided with ; married
daughter, Mrs. Baker, at whose house he died.
He married Miss Robbins of Eastport and by
her he had large family. Several sons died
of consumption, but he leaves George, his
Oldest, who lives in New York, as does the
other daughter, who married Mr.. Samuel
Kyle, tho former well known restaurant
keeper opposite the Post Office, and later
known as a boat-builder.
Mr.. Cole was an exceedingly kind man to
young men. An officer OF one of our banks
says no mans name came into his bank more
frequently as an indorser on the paper of
young, struggling business men, to aid them,
than L. d. Coles 1t is true he lost consider
able by SO doing but not as much as would be
imagined He was devoted to business and
told an intimate friend that during his whole
lifetime, from the moment he came to Port
land, a lad, he never took ride for pleasure
over bridge into the country, from the city.
He worked diligently, early and late. He was
a member of the Odd Fellow Order, and Of the
Aged Brotherhood