Roadside Wire

A Valentine’s day in Angola

Published on Wednesday, 16 June 2010 22:23

No, it’s not that museum.

Museum revives historic diner

By Bob Culp

Wednesday, 16 June 2010 04:44

AUBURN, INDIANA — A historic Angola-​area diner lay as a rusted scrap heap in the National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United State’s basement three months ago.

Now, almost fully restored, it’s the museum’s newest attraction.

Its original four walls, stools, bar and other scattered pieces were remnants of the post-​war era — and Don Siegla’s memories.

Simply called ‘Diner’ on its façade, it sat at 405 W. Maumee St. in Angola from 1947 to 1984. Siegla and his friends at what then was known as Tri-​State University ate at the diner most Sundays between 1955 and 1959, since the campus cafeteria wasn’t open.

Siegla recognized the pieces of the diner on a visit to the museum more than 50 years later, which prompted a donation to restore the piece of local history.

“It looks better than I remember it,” Siegla said Tuesday.

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