35 Years of Home Style Cooking
Back in the late 1940s, due to some problems with water seepage, the Elgin Diner was given a new foundation, which raised the structure about two feet higher.
During that time a small shed was added to the back of the building which allowed provisions to be bought in bulk and stored more easily. Other changes included a metal awning, screen doors, along with larger roof ventilators which made the summer months more tolerable.
The DART Moving and Storage Company building, behind the diner, was sold in the late 1950s and became the regional Sears distribution center.
The times are changing in Elgin Park, yet the diner still does a brisk business, even though the structure is now 35 years old and needs some major repairs.
An interesting note about the Hot Rod seen in this photo: The owner of the diner bought this car new back in 1932 and kept it his daily driver up until the late 1950s. He then gave it to his son, who immediately tarted it up.
The son helps at the diner, but doesn't want this to become his permanent job - life is calling and he has places to go and people to meet.
One last item of interest...I know for a fact, the trees behind the diner are slated to be taken down and a strip mall
will be built within a year.
Here comes suburbia!
Two other photos that illustrate the arc of the diner's life can be seen at the following links:
www.flickr.com/photos/24796741@N05/36159799846/in/datepos...
www.flickr.com/photos/24796741@N05/35749707982/in/datepos...
35 Years of Home Style Cooking
Back in the late 1940s, due to some problems with water seepage, the Elgin Diner was given a new foundation, which raised the structure about two feet higher.
During that time a small shed was added to the back of the building which allowed provisions to be bought in bulk and stored more easily. Other changes included a metal awning, screen doors, along with larger roof ventilators which made the summer months more tolerable.
The DART Moving and Storage Company building, behind the diner, was sold in the late 1950s and became the regional Sears distribution center.
The times are changing in Elgin Park, yet the diner still does a brisk business, even though the structure is now 35 years old and needs some major repairs.
An interesting note about the Hot Rod seen in this photo: The owner of the diner bought this car new back in 1932 and kept it his daily driver up until the late 1950s. He then gave it to his son, who immediately tarted it up.
The son helps at the diner, but doesn't want this to become his permanent job - life is calling and he has places to go and people to meet.
One last item of interest...I know for a fact, the trees behind the diner are slated to be taken down and a strip mall
will be built within a year.
Here comes suburbia!
Two other photos that illustrate the arc of the diner's life can be seen at the following links:
www.flickr.com/photos/24796741@N05/36159799846/in/datepos...
www.flickr.com/photos/24796741@N05/35749707982/in/datepos...