Photo: Ron Dylewski
The American Roadside.com
At the corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets. In 1953 it was bought by Bill Morgan who set up his first restaurant here.
At the corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets. In 1953 it was bought by Bill Morgan who set up his first restaurant here.
16 comments:
Was this diagonal across from the old post office?
YES IT WAS
Calling this Diggers Diner misses the history of the location. While it's last incarnation was an eatery owned by the funeral director next door, this was the original Morgan's Restaurant in Butler (and the whole multi-state chain), where the late Bill Morgan got his start as an entrepreneur and major franchisee of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Bill Morgan told me personally years later that he invented the 'bucket' container in which the KFC was sold, but I've never verified that, although, again, personally, I have no reason to doubt him. And Mr. Morgan purchased that particualr restaurant at the corner of Jefferson and Washington Sts., about 1 block off Main, as an existing business; I can't remember the name of the restaurant prior to his ownership, but believe he worked there as a teenager.
Dights diner opened approx 1952.
Worked there in the 70's as a teenager on the KFC side, I believe by then a company in Ohio owned the restaurants.
I remember it was fast paced and hard work and the older ladies that worked in the diner were always nice to us.
Bill Morgan was a personal friend of Col. Sanders himself. Bill Morgan was a giant in the restaurant business.
The name Digger threw me. Ate there often in 1952 when it was called Dights Dinner
I believe the physical dinner was sold. Does anyone know where it is today.
I believe the diner is now in Tarentum, Pa. You can look it up on Yahoo.
Yes the dinner is now attached to another building. It is now apart of Gatto Cycle Shop. It is called Gatto Cycle Dinner. Here is a link to a pic that is very similar to this one.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/u/photo_list/1456114
Does anybody remember a walkup hamburger place right there--cattycorner from the post office building?
Does anyone remember the name of the restaurant that sat at the location where the Howard' Johnson's Restaurant was located? My uncle worked their when he was young and I have been wracking my brain trying to remember the name?
Harold's (Herold's?),they had delicious ice cream, sold by the pound in paper trays.
such good memories going to the diner in the mid-60's to mid-70's. i remember the veal parmesan and hot turkey sandwiches on the diner side and of course the buckets of chicken on the KFC side.
On Channel 13 they did a special on diners. Diggers Diner is relocated to Tarentum...conncted to the Gatto Cycle Shop. The old Eastland diner that Bill Morgan operated for years is now located in Erie.
I went to this diner in the 30's and 40's. It was right across from Klugh's store and the flatiron building where my grandma lived. I can just hear Ella Fitzgerald singing Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall which I would play by putting a nickel in the jukebox in the booth.
Richard J. Palmer
I take it back. I confused it with another diner. I am 85. Excuse me.
Post a Comment