The day dawned overcast and cloudy as we left our quiet suburban Maryland town and hit the road for a return trip to the Amish country of nearby Pennsylvania, but as we neared our first destination, the Prospect Diner in Columbia, the sun broke through and cast its warm rays over the meeting place of another of Mod Betty’s Retro Roadmap get togethers. Betty & her amiable spouse, Retro Roadhusband once again played host to a meeting of the local lovers of the great, but vanishing American roadside, graciously coordinating a day of fun and exploration a stone’s throw from York, PA. Diner aficionados from as far away as upstate NY made the journey, and there was a feeling of goodwill and camaraderie shared among the participants celebrating the spirit and vision of the small town American entrepreneur. After a breakfast meal that couldn’t be beat, and enough coffee to sustain an army, we set out to explore, and unearth the treasures in the local antique stores. Bargains and treats galore awaited the patient and practiced eyes of our intrepid shoppers, and afterword we retreated to lunch at the classic American lunchcounter at Hinkle’s Pharmacy , celebrating 120 years of service to the local community, and was this place hopping on a Sunday afternoon! After fortifying our crew, we set off again for our special tour at the Haines’s Shoe House in nearby Hallam. The brainstorm of local shoe salesman Mahlon Haines, this charming bit of wacky architecture was built in 1948, and , though never actually inhabited by an Old Woman with so many children, is surprisingly cozy and quite comfortable inside. A satisfying find for any commercial archaeologist! We took the boot, bid a sad farewell to our roadside friends and returned to our antiquing, while many of the adventurers had a last bite to eat at the yummy Maple Donuts before setting sail for home. Our thanks go out once again to the ever vivacious Mod Betty for putting it all together. So, till next time, put on your traveling shoes and be on the lookout for that wonderful bit of America while it still exists!
Breakfast at the Prospect Diner
A braintrust of the great American road experience
The Retro Roadmasters outside the Prospect Diner
Scouting for treasures
Strange things from another time uncovered by our intrepid archaeologists
A full house for lunch at Hinkle’s Pharmacy
The Shoe House
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An On-Line Gallery of the Images and Musings of Photographer Michael G. Stewart
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What a fun day, made even better with good company and great photos. Let’s do it again soon!
Fabulous photos, what a wonderful place!! I’m beginning to see a connection here—you, Mod Betty, Diner Hunter, Retro Roadmap–who else am I missing? Never met a diner I didn’t like, myself.
I was just googling for some images of the Shoe House which reminded me of the fun time we all had on that Retro Roadmap Roundup – thanks for documenting it! I was too busy trying to be hostess with the mostess 🙂