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- Detroit News Clipping from March 14, 1954, "Hot Dog Wagon a Bright Spot of Old Detroit" - Night lunch wagons became popular in the 1890s. These horse-drawn "restaurants on wheels" served simple, affordable food like hot dogs after regular restaurants closed for the night. The Owl Night Lunch wagon pictured here operated in Detroit until 1926, when a city ordinance banned lunch wagons. Henry Ford, who had patronized the Owl as a young engineer, acquired it for Greenfield Village in 1927.
- March 14, 1954
- Collections - Artifact
Detroit News Clipping from March 14, 1954, "Hot Dog Wagon a Bright Spot of Old Detroit"
Night lunch wagons became popular in the 1890s. These horse-drawn "restaurants on wheels" served simple, affordable food like hot dogs after regular restaurants closed for the night. The Owl Night Lunch wagon pictured here operated in Detroit until 1926, when a city ordinance banned lunch wagons. Henry Ford, who had patronized the Owl as a young engineer, acquired it for Greenfield Village in 1927.
- Business Card for J. M. Colquhoun, Central Night Lunch Wagon, Detroit, Michigan, 1901-1927 - John Colquhoun operated a night lunch wagon in Detroit. He offered simple, affordable food to hungry customers after regular restaurants closed for the night. Henry Ford patronized Colquhoun's wagon while working at the Edison Illuminating Company in the 1890s. After a city ordinance banned lunch wagons in 1926, Ford acquired the fondly remembered wagon from Colquhoun for use in Greenfield Village.
- 1901-1927
- Collections - Artifact
Business Card for J. M. Colquhoun, Central Night Lunch Wagon, Detroit, Michigan, 1901-1927
John Colquhoun operated a night lunch wagon in Detroit. He offered simple, affordable food to hungry customers after regular restaurants closed for the night. Henry Ford patronized Colquhoun's wagon while working at the Edison Illuminating Company in the 1890s. After a city ordinance banned lunch wagons in 1926, Ford acquired the fondly remembered wagon from Colquhoun for use in Greenfield Village.
- Owl Night Lunch Wagon in Greenfield Village, 1982 -
- 1982
- Collections - Artifact
Owl Night Lunch Wagon in Greenfield Village, 1982
- Clipped Poem, "The Old Hot-Dog Wagon," Sent to Henry Ford from Mrs. H. E. Hornbeck, January 1936 - This poem by Edgar Guest recalls meeting Henry Ford at a night lunch wagon in Detroit, probably in the late 1890s. Night lunch wagons offered simple, affordable food to nighttime workers like Guest -- a "fledgling reporter" -- and Ford -- an engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company -- after regular restaurants closed for the night.
- January 01, 1936
- Collections - Artifact
Clipped Poem, "The Old Hot-Dog Wagon," Sent to Henry Ford from Mrs. H. E. Hornbeck, January 1936
This poem by Edgar Guest recalls meeting Henry Ford at a night lunch wagon in Detroit, probably in the late 1890s. Night lunch wagons offered simple, affordable food to nighttime workers like Guest -- a "fledgling reporter" -- and Ford -- an engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company -- after regular restaurants closed for the night.
- Owl Night Lunch Wagon Used by Henry Ford, circa 1890 - The Henry Ford's Owl Night Lunch wagon is thought to be the last remaining horse-drawn lunch wagon in America. It served food to nighttime workers in downtown Detroit, and attracted such diverse clientele as reporters, politicians, policemen, factory workers, and supposedly even underworld characters! Among its customers was Henry Ford, a young engineer working at Edison Illuminating Company during the 1890s.
- circa 1890
- Collections - Artifact
Owl Night Lunch Wagon Used by Henry Ford, circa 1890
The Henry Ford's Owl Night Lunch wagon is thought to be the last remaining horse-drawn lunch wagon in America. It served food to nighttime workers in downtown Detroit, and attracted such diverse clientele as reporters, politicians, policemen, factory workers, and supposedly even underworld characters! Among its customers was Henry Ford, a young engineer working at Edison Illuminating Company during the 1890s.
- C.H. Palmer Night Lunch Wagon, circa 1890 - This item comes from the collection of Richard J. S. Gutman, the leading expert on American diners, which was amassed in the course of a thesis, then four books, numerous articles, exhibitions, restorations, and other consulting projects. Diners were preceded by portable lunch wagons like this one. Charles H. Palmer, of Worcester, Massachusetts, patented this lunch wagon in 1891.
- circa 1890
- Collections - Artifact
C.H. Palmer Night Lunch Wagon, circa 1890
This item comes from the collection of Richard J. S. Gutman, the leading expert on American diners, which was amassed in the course of a thesis, then four books, numerous articles, exhibitions, restorations, and other consulting projects. Diners were preceded by portable lunch wagons like this one. Charles H. Palmer, of Worcester, Massachusetts, patented this lunch wagon in 1891.