CARL W. NOREN

Perhaps not strictly famous but certainly notable was St. Louis Park resident Carl Noren. He was known by his neighbors (he lived at 2925 Raleigh) as the “man who invented Burma Shave.”

The Burma Vita Company, owned by the Odell family, at first made liniment, but wanted to expand. According to one account, “a chemist was hired” (could that be our man?) and after about 300 tries, Burma Shave was born. In 1925, the Burma Shave sign campaign was started, and was wildly successful in about 44 states. It lasted until 1963, when the Odell family sold the company to Phillip Morris and the signs came down.

Carl and his wife Ethel may have been the first owners of their house on Raleigh, which was built in 1942. In 1949, Carl is listed in the Village directory as the Superintendent and Chemist for the company. In 1962, Carl is listed alone, with the Burma Vita Co. as his workplace.

Carl died in June 1966 at age 76, but his neighbors still remember the many Burma Shave signs he kept in his garage. Oh, what they would be worth today!

One of many interesting Burma Shave sites is http://www.mc.cc.md.us/Departments/hpolscrv/mthomas.htm

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.