This page has photos of our 1961 Comet taken in front of Diners and Dives in Rhode Island.
Did you know the Diner originated in Rhode Island. The origins of the diner can be traced to Walter Scott, a part-time pressman and type compositor in Providence, Rhode Island. Around 1858 when Scott was 17 years old he supplemented his income by selling sandwiches and coffee from a basket to newspaper night workers and patrons of men's club rooms. By 1872 business became so lucrative that Scott quit his printing work and began to sell food at night from a horse-drawn covered express wagon parked outside the Providence Journal newspaper office. In doing so, Walter Scott unknowingly inspired the birth of what would become one of America's most recognized icons -- the diner. From American Diner Museum.org
Lanna Thai Diner, Woburn, Massachusetts Lanna Thai Diner, The diner was manufactured in 1952. Originally called Jack's Diner, later Genia's Diner and then Main Street Diner. It was also called Stella’s Diner at one time. Worcester Lunch Car Company #834
Four Sisters Owl Diner, Lowell, Massachusetts The Owl Diner is Worcester Lunch Car #759. Built in 1940, it originally was in Waltham, MA as the Monarch Diner, a chain of diners. It moved to Appleton Street in 1950 when it was replaced in Waltham with a Jerry O’Mahony diner. In 1951 and was moved to Lowell where it became known as the "Owl Diner". It operated as the Peerless Diner for six years tp to 1981 when it was renamed the "Four Sisters Owl Diner"
Joe's Lunch, Lawrence, Massachusetts Joe's Lunch was Worcester Lunch car #322 delivered in 1918. It was replaced by Worcester dining car #750 as Elwards Diner in 1939. It then became Sam's Steak Out. It is now Three Dogz Diner.
Joe's Lunch, 1923 - (Photo donated by Lawrence Public Library)
Prairie Diner, Providence, Rhode Island The diner was built in 1927 in New Rochelle, N.Y., by P.J. Tierney & Sons,Inc., and moved to Prairie Avenue in 1928. It was once called the most beautiful dining car in the world. At one time the boxcar diner was also the oldest operating diner in Rhode Island. As you can see the Diner is presently in pretty bad shape.
Peg's Diner, Whitinsville, Massachusetts Peg's Diner, Worcester Lunch car #723, was built in 1936 and was origionally called Duggan's Diner. It then became Sully’s Diner, Barbara’s Place, the 87 Diner, and finally Peg’s Diner.
Carl's Oxford Diner, Oxford, Massachusetts Carl's Oxford Diner is a Worcester Lunch Car and is claimed to have opened in 1940 but I question that due to the sliding doors on each end. I believe this lunch car to be much older. At one time named Henry's Diner it became Carl's in 1972. Great place with the origional sliding doors on each end that slide into the wall. Still has a lot of the origional woodwork inside. Ceiling is covered with paneling but it still has the origional white and black tile wall.
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