Research Notes

I need to come up with some web pages to discuss what I have done and what is available out there.

Chattel & Conditional Sales Research updates




Unite States guide to state links: http://www.statearchivists.org/arc/states/res_sch_genlloc.htm







http://www.nj.gov/treasury/revenue/rms/pdf/c100000.pdf
new Jersey can get rid of them, unfortunately

Massachusetts can get rid of them. http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcpdf/MA_Municipal_Records_Retention_Manual.pdf

New York is SUPPOSED to be permanent, but these regulations were not passed until 1988, and I think many of the municipalities got rid of the records before 1988. Here is the Town/City, check page 114 .. http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/records/mr_pub_mu1.pdf Also, chattel records are filed on either the county or town level. No rhyme or reason. 
I think I need to email the archives about building permit indexes concerning Utica - http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/records/mr_pub_mi1_part2.shtml

No clue for New Hampshire. It seems like they had one book where they wrote down everything, not just chattel/conditional sales agreements. But on the good news, building permits info are permanent. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/III/33-A/33-A-mrg.htm

• Delaware has permanent building permits. http://archives.delaware.gov/govsvcs/pdfs/General%20Records%20Retention%20Schedules/Local%20Government%20General%20Records%20Schedule/Planning.pdf

   

  search:http://archives.delaware.gov/collections/guideintro.shtml
• type in conditional sales or chattels

  Maryland - looks like they can destroy the records also. http://aomol.net/000001/000642/html/am642--745.html

no help with Maine:Might have to email for assistance. http://www.maine.gov/sos/arc/records/local/index.html

Unsure on michigan, though looks like building permits are permanent records

Pennsylvania should have conditional sales at the county level. Each county is different on the amount of info filled in. Index books/dockets are permanent, individual forms are hit or miss, based on space.Although the index books are permanent, but also can be at Historical Societies if a Judge gives the permission as happened in Wayne County.

  Nothing on the Rhode Island Website.

West Virginia - no luck, they're allowed to destroy them... http://www.wvculture.org/history/rmpb/rscountyclerk.html But what I am wondering about are Notary Public Records.

Virginia is going to be a crap shoot too - search conditional sales http://www.lva.virginia.gov/agencies/records/sched_local/index.htm

   

  

Vermont possibilities

Some Vermont possibilities for Ward & Dickinson diners need to be checked out.

Thomas Walsh of Albany was running a business in Rutland, VT in 1930 when he declared bankruptcy.  One of the companies who was listed as a creditor was Ward & Dickinson of Silver Creek, NY
Edit - was in town for three years

A While back, on EBAY was a matchbook for Pete's Diner in Middlebury, VT.  This had a drawing of a larger 40 foot Ward & Dickinson.  A Deluxe model, so to say.  The drawing of the Ward Diner, the 30 foot model is often a stock art option, but I am hoping that the larger 40 foot models used for drawings are good hits.
Edit - This has been confirmed!  Diner was demolished shortly after WW2

  One of the places using the 30 foot Ward diner was located in South Carolina.  I was able to verify that the diner looked to be a home made barrel roof diner, put into place in the mid 1930s.

  Finally. I had always found a mention of a Chunawaka Lunch Car, run by the Petty Bros in Granville, NY around 1930.  I recently found a June 1933 blurb that William Lorette was moving the diner to Rutland.  I always had a suspicion that this might be a Closson or a Ward.
Edit - Need address, but William Lorette did have a restaurant in Rutland.

All you can eat Diner, part 2

 

Here is a photo of the aforementioned Jopil Bros Parlor Diner.  A poor photo which is typical of newspaper that has been turned to microfilm.  One thing I find fascinating is the roof.  It looks like a metal roof.   And hopefully it is just the photo, but the front of the diner looks like it is leaning.  

  From research, it seems there was a Fred's Diner at this location for some years, and just before this diner came here, Fred's was put into storage and would get badly charred in less than a month, while in storage.

1931 - Yonkers - all you can eat

Fascinating article. Getting back into doing a little research that needs to be done before Christmas.  Ten Percent of the customers were women, and they ate salads.   This article is from the Yonkers Statesman, July 24, 1931. 

Quintessence, Albany. To Close

The Times Union of Albany, NY has reported that the Albany Medical Center has bought the 1948/9 Fodero, lastly known as Quintessence.  A friend of NY Diners has reported that an employee of Quintessence commented that the diner is going to be moved.  No other information is known.

The Chuck Wagon Diner is no longer run by the Ketchums.  They have leased the diner out to new operators. 

  The Miss Port Henry Diner is now Foote's Miss Port Henry Diner and is doing well so far with a veteran restauranteur in charge.

  Dewey's Diner has closed. A victim of roughly 3 years of essentially continuous road work on Fuller Road.

Phoenicia Diner reopens

The Watershed Post reports that the Phoenicia Diner has been reopened. 

Check here for the article.

http://www.watershedpost.com/2012/fresh-phoenicia-diner

Some remodeling was done to the interior. Check out the photos.  For historians, here is the skinny on ownership change.
"Last year, longtime owner Chris Raptis sold the diner to Michael Cioffi"

A few years back, the roof partially collapsed in the kitchen during a five foot plus snowfall.

Queensbury Diner delivered

DeRaffele has delivered a diner to Exit 19 of the Northway(I-87)
Dennis Pilarinos and his son Robert are the owners of this diner.  They also own and operate the Ambrosia Diner in Catskill and the Capital City Diner in Albany/Guilderland, by Crossgates Mall.  Dennis also owns the diner in Hudson, but leases this one out for the "Grazin" operation.

 The powers that be in Queensbury wanted the diner not to be completely retro, so the Pilarinos compromised with the stone exterior below the windows. Fortunately, DeRaffele pulled off the compromise beautifully! 

The diner will also have heated sidewalks, which will be a nice addition for winter months.  No word on when the diner will open.
  This diner has been in the works since 2010, but met with a multitude of roadblocks. Fortunately, things seem to be moving in the right direction!