McKee honors Drake with a gift to Newton

BY ROSE SGARLATO
NEWTON — Drake's Cakes gave the world Ring Dings and Yodels. Now Newton, the birthplace of Newman E. Drake, is getting a gift from the current Ring Ding maker.
Newton’s recreation department received a $20,000 grant last week from McKee Foods, which it will use towards improvements at Memory Park.
Based in Chattanooga Tennessee, McKee Foods, the maker of the Little Debbie brand of snacks, chose Newton for its ties to former Newton resident Newman E. Drake.
Drake was born in Newton, near the Andover line, in 1860 and in 1888 he was the founder of Drake’s Bakeries Inc.in Brooklyn, N.Y.,, which started with pound cake but laytyer became known for the popular Yodels, Ring Dings, Devil Dogs and Yankee Doodles. Newman Drake died in 1930 and his compoany passed from family hands in the 1960's. In 2013, it was purchased by McKee Foods.
A philanthropist as well as an entrepreneur, Drake donated 10 acres of property to Newton, now known as Memory Park on Moran Street.
In accordance with its corporate campaign — dubbed the “Outdoor Happiness Movement” — Sam Stillings, district sales representative for McKee Foods, contacted Newton’s Recreation Supervisor Debbie Danielson a few months ago with the company's offer.
“Newton was the only town in the state of New Jersey to be the recipient of this donation,” Danielson said. “They wanted the money to go towards outdoor recreation, so we are choosing to build an outdoor pavilion.”
In addition to the 24x36-foot pavilion by the pool, the remainder of the money will go to new picnic tables and benches. Construction will begin soon and is expected to be completed by the start of summer. Danielson said that Grinnell Pavers of Sparta is also donating materials towards the improvements.
Stillings presented the check to Danielson last Thursday at town hall with Councilman Wayne Levante and Deputy Mayor Sandra Lee Diglio also in attendance.
“I am very excited and acted quickly,” Danielson said. “This is a great benefit for the pool and families who use the pool. There is not enough shade for people to enjoy and have family time.”