{"id":100014,"date":"2024-01-24T06:54:20","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T11:54:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=100014"},"modified":"2024-01-27T10:19:32","modified_gmt":"2024-01-27T15:19:32","slug":"celebrating-the-harris-diner-centennial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2024\/01\/24\/celebrating-the-harris-diner-centennial\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating the Harris Diner Centennial"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Peter Gordon, Historian —<\/p>\n

A 1974 Owego Gazette article tells the story of Lyons, N.Y. diner owner Bill Conway, whose car broke down in Owego, N.Y. in 1924, and while he was on his way to New Jersey to buy a diner.<\/p>\n

I had erroneously thought that those sleek metal-sided \u2018diners\u2019 were recycled from railway dining cars.<\/p>\n

\"Celebrating<\/a>

A model of the Diner graces the entrance at Harris Diner in Owego. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

Turns out, Conway was headed to purchase a prefabricated model from the Jerry O\u2019Mahoney Diner Company (1917 \u2013 1952) in Elizabeth, N.J. That company built around 2,000 \u201cdiners\u201d and shipped them by truck and rail around the country.<\/p>\n

The article said that Conway strolled around Owego\u2019s business district while his car was being repaired. At 79 North Ave, stood a \u201cpeanut stand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conway rented the property, bought a diner from O\u2019Mahoney, and on Sept. 24, 1924, Bill Conway hitched a team of horses to the completed diner on the Lehigh Valley Railroad siding in Owego, and towed it to 79 North Ave., near the Fire Station.<\/p>\n

\"Celebrating<\/a>

Pictured is the Conway Club Diner after the 1935 remodel. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

The article continues to describe the original diner as having nine stools and two, two-seat tables. A 1933 remodel increased the capacity to 65 when a beer license was issued, but discontinued in 1944.<\/p>\n

Bill Conway hired Ernie Wunder in 1931. Ernie would be a beloved fixture for almost 50 years. The Harris family, and Sam, who had operated Harris\u2019s Catatonk Coffee Break since 1970, took over Conway\u2019s Club Diner. On April 7, 1982, the Harris Diner opened its doors and celebrated in a full-page advertisement in the April 6, 1982 Owego Pennysaver.<\/p>\n

\"Celebrating<\/a>

Pictured is an April 6, 1982 Owego Pennysaver advertisement, celebrating the opening of the Harris Diner. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

Even though the original structure was largely replaced, on the same footprint and after the 2011 flood, Sam Harris is still at the grill today at 79 North Ave., serving great meals at modest prices for friends and travelers.<\/p>\n

As a point of interest, the first hamburger served in 1924 was ordered by Carl Reig, a custodian at the fire station.<\/p>\n

\"Celebrating<\/a>

Conway was unloaded from the Lehigh RR siding and towed to 79 North Ave. on Sept. 24,1924. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

More important than the edifice are the families. In that 1982 Pennysaver ad you see the Harris family working together to serve friends a good meal with a smile. The Wunder \/ Conway employees are seen behind the counter shortly after the 1946 remodel.<\/p>\n

A successful diner, in my opinion, is the embodiment of an ideal family home, a comfortable place where you\u2019re greeted (usually with a smile), where the fare is predictably good, the surroundings and the menu are always familiar, the prices are modest, and the person next to you will share a pleasant word.<\/p>\n

\"Celebrating<\/a>

The Conway Club Diner menu; breakfast, lunch and dinner, complete with a T-bone steak for a buck twenty-five. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

From a seat at the counter, one is always mesmerized by the ring and the wielding of a spatula put through its paces by a talented craftsman, a distraction from the blueberry, no strawberry \/ rhubarb pie, the crust crinkled at the edges in a come-hither pout.<\/p>\n

I hope to share the next hundred with Sam and Melissa, and their extended family, at 79 North Ave. in Owego – the Harris (family) Diner.<\/p>\n

\"Celebrating<\/a>

The Conway Club Diner exterior in the 1940s, with the Green Lantern and Nyes Bakery to the left. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Celebrating<\/a>

In 1933, the Conway Club Diner advertised more than a million customers served. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Celebrating<\/a>

Recovery begins from the 2011 flood. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Celebrating<\/a>

Harris Diner is still thriving in 2024. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Celebrating<\/a>

Waitress Melissa Patterson is pictured with Sam Harris. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Celebrating<\/a>

A Harris Diner collage. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Celebrating<\/a>

The Conway Diner Club staff is pictured in the restaurant in 1946. Provided photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Peter Gordon, Historian — A 1974 Owego Gazette article tells the story of Lyons, N.Y. diner owner Bill Conway, whose car broke down in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":100023,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-100014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nCelebrating the Harris Diner Centennial - Owego Pennysaver Press<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2024\/01\/24\/celebrating-the-harris-diner-centennial\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Celebrating the Harris Diner Centennial - Owego Pennysaver Press\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Peter Gordon, Historian — A 1974 Owego Gazette article tells the story of Lyons, N.Y. diner owner Bill Conway, whose car broke down in...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2024\/01\/24\/celebrating-the-harris-diner-centennial\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Owego Pennysaver Press\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/The-Owego-Pennysaver-49179420591\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-01-24T11:54:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-01-27T15:19:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2024\/01\/Diner9.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"408\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"psadvert\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"psadvert\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2024\/01\/24\/celebrating-the-harris-diner-centennial\/\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2024\/01\/24\/celebrating-the-harris-diner-centennial\/\",\"name\":\"Celebrating the Harris Diner Centennial - Owego Pennysaver Press\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2024\/01\/24\/celebrating-the-harris-diner-centennial\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2024\/01\/24\/celebrating-the-harris-diner-centennial\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2024\/01\/Diner9.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-01-24T11:54:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-27T15:19:32+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#\/schema\/person\/e03684194434956dfb61f5ffcbc19492\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2024\/01\/24\/celebrating-the-harris-diner-centennial\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2024\/01\/24\/celebrating-the-harris-diner-centennial\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2024\/01\/24\/celebrating-the-harris-diner-centennial\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2024\/01\/Diner9.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2024\/01\/Diner9.jpg\",\"width\":500,\"height\":408,\"caption\":\"Harris Diner is still thriving in 2024. 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