Triangle Diner
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The Triangle Diner | |
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   | |
| Location | 27 W. Gerrard St., Winchester, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°10′43″N 78°10′12″W / 39.17861°N 78.17000°WCoordinates: 39°10′43″N 78°10′12″W / 39.17861°N 78.17000°W |
| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Architect | O'Mahony, Jerry, Inc. |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| MPS | Diners of Virginia MPS |
| NRHP Reference # | [1] |
| VLR # | 138-5004 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | March 31, 2010 |
| Designated VLR | December 17, 2009[2] |
The Triangle Diner is a quintessential American diner in Winchester, Virginia. It was built in 1948 by the Jerry O'Mahony Diner Company of Elizabeth, New Jersey.[3]
It is one of the best preserved classic diners in America, with close to 100% of the original features still intact. Key features include elaborate stainless steel ornamentation on the exterior, rounded interior ceiling with hidden lighting cove on all sides, a counter with stools and booths for patron seating, and terrazzo concrete floor. O'Mahony was one of the most significant and prolific diner manufacturing companies of all time and is often regarded as the company that set the highest standards for diner construction quality and craftsmanship. Every aspect of the structure's form and function was very carefully designed and optimized.
O'Mahony is considered a father of the American diner and builder of the "Cadillac" of American diners. His company's work served as an inspiration for other diner manufacturers throughout the 1940s and 1950s. The Triangle Diner is an outstanding example of "Moderne architectural features" that are representative of the stainless steel prefabricated diners of the post–World War II era. The entire diner building – approximately 43 by 16 feet – was built at the O'Mahony Diner Company factory in New Jersey and once fully complete was then transported by train nearly 300 miles to Winchester, Virginia. It has been at the same busy intersection in Winchester since it first arrived there, more than 60 years ago. While diners of this design somewhat resemble and are often confused with railroad cars removed from their wheels, these buildings were never railroad cars.[4]
The Triangle Diner was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior on March 31, 2010, and was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register on December 17, 2009.[2] The building is currently closed pending completion of a very comprehensive historic restoration, including roof repair, and upgrades to plumbing, air conditioning/heating and electrical systems. It will also feature an upgraded and enlarged kitchen in the rear of the diner building.
The Triangle Diner is the older of only two stainless steel O’Mahony diners in Virginia. Of the more than 2,000 O'Mahony diners once built, only a few dozen still remain nationwide.
Country music legend Patsy Cline worked at the diner for three years after dropping out of high school to help support her mother and siblings.
References
- ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
- 1 2 "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- ↑ "http://www.TriangleDiner.com"
- ↑ Nicolle McDaniel (September 2009). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Triangle Diner" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying five photos
