The diner is as New England as you can get. Why? Because it all started here
in Providence, Rhode Island with Walter Scott and his converted horse-drawn
freight wagon in 1872. Scott's "lunch wagon" eventually led to New
England being a hotbed of diners and diner manufactures. This new kind of
"eating experience," was born out of providing a quick, hot meal to
blue-collar workers who worked the night shift. This soon spread to the rest of the Northeast
and eventually the country as whole. Recently, with hearty, home cooked meals; a close, down-to-earth, and
intimate atmosphere, the diner is making a comeback. The reason for the recent
popularity might possibly be a back lash to the homogenized and impersonal
atomosphere of the current crop of fast food joints.
One organization that has devoted its energies to educate and preserve this
unique American icon is the American Diner Museum in Providence, Rhode Island.
Both the American Diner Museum and the Walker Transportation Collection have
exchanged photos and information that have benefited both organizations in preserving this important part of Americana.
If you are interested
in contacting them or becoming a member, check out the new American Diner Museum web site or write them at:
American Diner Museum
P.O Box 885
Providence, Rhode Island 02901
401-331-8575
Tell them that the Walker Transportation Collection sent you.
Another good source of information is "Diners Of The North Shore" by Gary Thomas,
Arcadia publishing, ISBN 0-7385-1071-8 -
Thank you Gary for the help and advice you gave us while researching and developing this diner section.
Below are some of the many diners that dot the New England landscape. Hope
you enjoy them.
The Colonial Diner in Brockton, Massachusetts is Sterling Diner Company's #361. It was their very first diner.
Unfortunately, it was demolished. This photo was taken on January 3, 1988. (Photo by Annette Fisher. Walker Transportation Collection)
This Worcester Lunch Car Diner #832 became the Kingstown Diner in North Kingstown, Rhode Island at the time of delivery in July 1952
Providence, Rhode Island was the birth place of the diner.
(Photo donated to the Collection by the American Diner Museum. Walker Transportation Collection)
click image for more details
The diner is a 1934 Worcester lunch car and was delivered to Lawrence, Massachusetts to Charlie O'Neil in April of 1934. Al Demuth worked for Charlie until 1955, when he bought the diner from Charlie.
In 1976, Al moved the diner to its present location at 297 South Broadway in Lawrence. In 1983, Don & Ken Field bought the diner from Al and continue to this day making old-fashioned food for great people.
February 4,1999 a fire destroyed the inside of the diner and the FIELD family worked together to completely restore the diner to it's original 1934 beauty.
It took us eight months of hard work but the end results are beautiful! Come by and see and savor!
(Photo donated by Albert Grant )
click image for more details
The Agawam Diner has been serving customers since 1940. The Agawam started
out as a Worcester Dining Car (#762) at ) Depot Square in Ipswich and now is a modern
Fodero diner on its current location at the intersection of Rte 133 and U.S. 1.
It has become a favorite spot for hungry travelers and diner aficionados
alike.
(Photo donated by Albert Grant)
Norm's Diner at 171 Bridge Street, Groton, Connecticut is a Silk City Diner and manufactured in 1954.
This photo was taken on February 15, 1997. (Photo by David A. Fletcher. Walker Transportation Collection)
click image for more details
Perched on the bank of the South Canal in Lawrence is Sam's
Steak Out, Worcester dining car #750 visitors
enjoy excellent home-style foods, hospitality and a view of the Great Stone
Dam. This diner started out as
Worcester dining car #322 known as Joe's Lunch in 1918 by Joseph Elward &
Family, who later replaced it
with the present dining car. After an interim period where the diner was
utilized as office space, in 1983
the diner was restored to an eating facility by the Kelleher Family who
operates it to this day.
(Photo donated by Albert Grant)
click image for more details
The Miss Wakefield Diner, Rte. 16 - Wakefield, NH
(A step back in time)
The Miss Wakefield Diner is a 1949 Jerry O'Mahoney diner.
When we found her in 1991, she had been in storage near Albany, NY for some time, had been vandalized and was in need
of major resoration work. We had her moved to her present location, no easy task as she weighs nearly thirty
tons and is over sixteen feed wide, and spend many hours getting her into the shape she is in today, which we
believe is the shape she was in when she was first built. (Photo by Albert Grant)
Thank you for stopping by, please come again - Scott & Grace Bramer, Owners & Operators.
Sadly, the Route 28 Diner closed up shop in December 2003
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Four Sisters Owl Diner
244 Appleton Street
Lowell, MA 01852
978-453-8321
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Click images for more detailed picture
Our Diner is a Worcester Dining car built in Worcester, Mass.
It was originally called the
"Monarch Diner"
and was part of a chain of diners spread throughout the Boston area.
First located on Main Street in Waltham, Mass., our diner was replaced by a newer diner
in 1951 and was moved to Lowell, Mass., where it became known as the "Owl Diner".
In 1982, after operating the former "peerless Diner" for six years,
our family purchased the "Owl Diner" and renamed it the "Four Sisters".
"Where Friends and Family Meet!"
(Photo donated by Albert Grant)
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Eggie's
Diner
Route 125
127 Plaistow Road
Plaistow, NH 03865
603-382-5063
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Click images for more detailed picture
Eggie's Diner, Mountain View diner #317, built in 1952 was formerly Pent's Diner of North Reading, MA.
Eggie's has been operated by Kevin Barden since 1992 and is a great place to get breakfast on the way "up country".
(photos donated by Albert Grant)
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