Today's history lesson...

As I drove my daughter to school today, I noticed the building on th corner of Rt 233 and Main half gone.  The house next to it  is rubble. 

I couldn't get the Westmoreland Diner out of my mind.  Shouldn't it qualify for Historical status?  Why have I lived here 30+ years and never eaten there???

So I grabbed my Town of Westmoreland history book (yes I have one, I'm a nerd)  Here's what I found regarding the diner...

"Barrons Hardware Store occupied the brick building on the northeast corner of Main Street and Route 233.  This was years ago owned by A.F. Brown until 1876 after which it was operated by Thomas Hughes for 50 years.  Edgar Jenkins worked for Hughes for many years and at Mr. Huges' death Mr. Jenkins took over the business.  Besides selling groceries he had at one time an ice cream parlor in the rear of the building.  The next owner and operator of the store was Bernard McGuinnis followed by the Fedor family and then Mr. & Mrs. John La Manque who converted the building to an apartment house and recently, in March 1974 Raymond and Elizabeth Barron opened the present business there, Westmoreland Hardware."

So the building has been around since at least 1876.  It was still the hardware when we moved here the first time in 1980.  Shortly after it was closed, as was the grocery store on the corner of Furnace Street. As far as I know (and correct me if I'm wrong) since then, the corner building has been a Diner.  On and off again operated over the last 30+ years.  I also found a photo with the Post Office once located in the rear section of the building.  That same back section burned a few years ago, shortly after Olney Photography moved in (??? lol)

I hope they are not tearing it all the way down.  Yes it's an eye soar.  It sits waaaaay too close to the road.  But really, can't they restore it in some way?  I guess we wait and see what happens next.

On a separate note, I read a little about the other corner where the new pizzeria is being constructed and where our beloved bar used to sit.  At publication (1976)  it was still Gene's Bar and Grill.  It speaks of the ice cream parlor that used to be located in that building and how the upstairs was used for dances and as the school gymnasium from time to time.  Lastly it mentions that George Washington (ya, THAT GUY!) used to own the deed to that property on the corner... cool.

lastly... this book is a bitch to read and I will say again what I told Brett when I first read it... I need to write a newer, updated, easier to follow edition of this sucker!!  Westmo used to be interesting!  We had a college once!  Trains stations!  The Iron Works!  Milk Ice Houses!  not to mention the woman that went nuts and killed herself and all her kids in a corn field off Rome Road (rt 233)...  no towns without its murder mystery... 

We'll see...