WAYNESBORO – Franklin County has a lot to offer when it comes to history:
–Whether it be the farmers who have helped not just feed the county, but the entire country
–Perhaps the soldiers, doctors and nurses who served during the wars when our nation was just getting started
–The visionary men and women who settled in the county and built the great cities and towns that make up our communities.
–The teachers who have helped generation after generation of students grow to become our leaders, our co-workers and our neighbors.
Then there is the history of the great food.
In this last installment of the history of dining in Franklin County, we will look back at restaurants and diners of Waynesboro and the surrounding area.
The start of our journey into the history of dining in Waynesboro begins at the Hotel Anthony Wayne. Built in 1925, the hotel, which was named after Revolutionary War hero, General Anthony Wayne, was the home of the S.S. Wayne Tavern. It was a popular restaurant that over the years had been a social hot spot in the borough. It was even once visited by former President Dwight Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie.
Before the Hotel Anthony Wayne opened its doors, another building was capturing the attention of the local citizens, The Arcade Theater opened its doors in 1916 bringing an element of culture to the growing city. Right next door to the legendary theater was the Arcade Restaurant, which offered an easy dining experience when one was going to the theater. The theater and restaurant were torn down in the summer of 1966.
In 1950, as the world gathered itself from the ashes of the Great Depression and World War II, the horizon of society was shifting. Fast cars, rock n’ roll music, letterman sweaters and poodle skirts were all the rage, and Saturday nights were for cruising, dancing to the tunes of Elvis and Buddy Holly, and eating hamburgers and fries at The Big Dipper. That is if you lived in Waynesboro.
Located on Route 16 in Rouzerville, The Big Dipper was the place to be after school and on the weekends. With only window service ordering and pickup, cars would roll into the parking lot and patrons would eat at their cars. The diner was only open for 20 years, closing up its kitchen for good in 1970, but the memories of those magical nights still linger in the minds of many of the community’s older generation, and the legacy of its twinkling lighted sign is not likely to be extinguished.
Another popular eating location in Waynesboro was the Savoy Catering and Restaurant which opened in 1932 and was located on the corner of Fifth and Church Streets. Like The Big Dipper, the Savoy was popular with local teens and young adults looking for after-school and weekend get-togethers. Its doors closed in the late 1960s and the building where so many memories were created was demolished in 1970.
All of these great diners and restaurants are gone to time, but the memories they created continue to live on through stories passed down from generation to generation. These were not just places to get something to eat. They were places where friendships were built, love was found and family bonds became stronger.
Fine dining in Waynesboro is not a thing of the past. Today there are great places to eat, spend time with friends and family, and create new memories to pass along. Places where this occurs include the famous Waynesburger at 100 W. Main St., The Parlor House located at 724 S. Potomac St., The Crispy Biscuit at 88 W. Main St., or The Velvet Café at 145 W. Third St.
All of the great establishments, old and new, that have been mentioned in this three-part series are just a glimpse of the history and legacy of dining in Franklin County. As one kitchen goes cold, another heats up, and new culinary opportunities become available. We can’t go back to the days of The Big Dipper, The Rainbow Restaurant or even The Bucket of Blood, but there is another story out there, another delicious gem just waiting to be discovered.
