A staple for Model A drivers on the Lincoln Highway was and is the Lincoln Cafe in Belle Plaine, Iowa. The restaurant has seen a variety of owners throughout the years but currently seems to be thriving under new management. Without doing the research, this iconic porcelin and neon sign may be as old as the cafe itself - roughly built in 1913. Symbolically the arrow points westward towards the Lincoln Highway's terminus in California.
Across the street (the Lincoln Highway) is a light orange brick building which was the Herring Hotel for road travelers and railroad workers. Today the building stands in need of major repair including a roof.
While Big Jumbo, the artesian well remains capped just a few blocks away, the excitment of the town's new main street and museum have reframed the town's past with the present, including the still functioning Lincoln Cafe. Know that.
During the past year or so the fate of Belle Plaine, Iowa's Lincoln Cafe was on hold pending a new owner and a top to bottom remodeling effort. The diner re-opened in November 2010.
This restaurant originally opened in 1925 catering to motorists on the famous transcontinental Lincoln Highway. In the above photo the highway can be seen on the right side running west and east. On Saturday the restaurant was full of folks eating their midday meal while a large private birthday party for a 92 year old town resident took place in a back room. It would be interesting to ask the party girl what she remembered of the diner and historic highway. But that had to wait, she was busy eating a red velvet cupcake. Know that.
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42N country is bisected by a concrete ribbon - the Lincoln Highway. As the first transamerica highway the route is filled with support businesses of various kinds and ages - some as old as the route itself.
In Belle Plaine, Iowa the locally famous Lincoln Cafe operates. This diner has been feeding the travellers and town folk for generations. However this year something went terribly wrong. One of the cafe's co-owners was murdered at his home.
The co-owner's common law wife, her son and his girl friend were all charged in July with the crime. Their trials begin in December and early 2010.While Belle Plaine offers a peek at what small town USA looked like back in the 1920-30s with the Lincoln Highway, cafe and Preston's gas station (a very small museum to the Lincoln Highway and other area things) it would not be complete without a lunch stop at the Lincoln Cafe. Check first before planning a trip there as the cafe may or may not be open during the trial period.
If for no other reason Lincoln Highway enthusiasts should stop by and photograph the exterior of the landmark diner. Know that.
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