The Crosser Diner, which has served the Lincoln Highway in Lisbon, Ohio, for more than half a century, is being carted away. The rare Sterling model at 127 W. Lincoln Way has been closed for years, leading to speculation and concern that it might be demolished. The Lisbon Morning Journal reports that Herb Chesney is disassembling the historic diner for owners Gayle Beck and Paul Hammond, who are salvaging as much of the diner as possible in hopes of reconstructing it just outside St. Louis, Missouri. This photo by Patti Schaeffer is from the December 28 Morning Journal.
The Sterling-brand diner was manufactured about 1944 by J.B. Judkins of Merrimac, Mass., best known for their streamliner models featuring one or both ends rounded. This Dinette model is one of only 4 survivors.
Earlier in December, the Journal reported:
Discussion continued about the progress of Crosser’s Diner off Lincoln Way. Lewis expressed his dissatisfaction with the level of communication among the village and the owners and contractor. “Do we have any contact or time frame?” Lewis asked. “We seem to be in the dark up here.” No members of council could give an answer about the progression of the demolition. Solicitor Virginia Barbarak said she did speak with the fire chief but that she “didn’t have a time frame.” Lewis said he’d like to find out when the contractor will be finishing the work. “We need to know,” he said. “A lot of people are upset. I’d like to see it gone by the end of the year.”
With Lincoln Highway tourism rising, the diner could have been an amazing draw for the town, which has a 1950s diner a few blocks away. Here’s the diner in 2007:
Books by Brian Butko 
Thanks for posting and please keep us up to date on items relating to this diner.
That’s not perfect news but it’s better than we had a right to hope. I’d like to see the diner stay in Ohio, of course, but this is much better than reading that it was staying here in a landfill, which is what I half expected. I can’t tell whether “A lot of people are upset” because it’s leaving or because it’s not leaving fast enough although Mr. Lewis seems to hold the latter view. Beck & Hammond forever. Mayor Lewis never.
Brian –
Thank you.
Nice to hear from you again.
We now live in the Shell Point Retirement Community in Ft. Myers, FL.
The winters got to be to much up north.
I hope you had the chance to see our new book,
Mario
Hopefully this diner will get rebuilt and used. Luckily these were all wood construction with porcelain covering inside and out. This would make it easier to take apart and rebuild.
I am glad I got to eat there back in the mid-1980’s once. My last count on these Sterling Dinettes was 5 although this probably might be the most original. I photographed 4 or the 5.
The one in Fall River, Mass. is unrecognizable, the one in Mansfield, Mass. has been altered to a certain degree by add-ons and I believe the one in Hoboken, NJ does not have much of its interior.
There was the Rail Diner from Rochester, NY which was moved sometime ago. Was that Al Sloan of Michigan who bought that one? I cannot quite recall.
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I’m so sad to see it get taken away. I remember eating there when i was growing up in the mid 80’s to very early 90’s until it closed down. I loved the way they made hamburgers. They grilled their buns and they put smiley faces on them with the ketchup. I wish someone would of kept it running. it was a great place and piece of history. It’s sad to see it sit there all these years and more sad to see it being taken apart and sent away.
Crosser’s Diner was my very first job in 1975. I really enjoyed working there.
Robin,
Do you know/have (or have you kept in touch with) anyone who would have the recipes from the diner? I grew up in Lisbon, and the recipe for the dinner rolls was one from our family… however, no one in the family has it. I moved away when I was 19, and worrying about recipes was not my priority… LOL. However, nostalgia makes me want to find it. Thanks for any input.
Kindest regards,
Lisa