Nomination for Corner Lunch

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 (Rev. 10-90) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service RECEIVED 22 OCT - 3 20: OMB No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NAT. REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 28le This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the information requested. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions.

Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property historic name. Corner Lunch (Diners of Massachusetts MPS) other names/site number. 2. Location street & number_ 133 Lamartine Street not for publication city or town Worcester - vicinity state Massachusetts code MA countyWorcester _ code_027 _ zip code 01608 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this nomination - request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60.

In my opinion, the property D meets - does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant - nationally statewide - locally. (- See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Usa h. tit Ia craed Signature of certifying official/Title Judith B. McDonough, Executive Director 9/25/3000 Massachusetts Historical Commission, State Historic Preservation Officer State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property - meets - does not meet the National Register criteria. ( See continuation sheet for additional Comments.) Signature of certifying official/Title Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification hereby certify that this property i entered in the National Regist - See continuation sheet. - determined eligible for the National Register - See continuation sheet.

- determined not eligible for the National Register - removed from the National Register - other (explain): ignafire of the Keepe atuch Anduns Date of Actior 1/15/00 Corner Lunch Name of Property 5. Classification wnership of Propert heck as many boxes as app xprivate _ public-local - public-State - public-Federal Worcester, MA County and State (Check only one box) x building(s) - district - site _ structure - object Number of Resources within Property (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) Contributing Noncontributing 1 building sites - structures objects Total Name of related multiple property listing (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) 20" Century Commercial Architecture: Diners of MA 6.

Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) COMMERCE/TRADE: restaurant 1 Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register n/a Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) COMMERCE/TRADE: restaurant Z. Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) _OTHER: stainless steel diner. Materials (Enter categories from instructions) foundation_concrete walls stainless steel porcelain enamel rubber membrane roof_ other Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) Corner Lunch Name of Property 8. Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

Applicable National Register Criteria (Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property for National Register listing.) xA Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. - B Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. XC Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. - D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Criteria Considerations (Mark "x" in all the boxes that apply.) Property is: -A owned by religious institution or used for religious purposes. XB removed from its original location.

_ C a birthplace or grave. _ D a cemetery. _ E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. _F a commemorative property. XG less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past 50 years. Narrative Statement of Significance (Explain the significance of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) Worcester, MA_ County and State Areas of Significance (Enter categories from instructions) ARCHITECTURE COMMERCE Period of Significance 1968- c. 1970 Significant Dates N/a Significant Person (Complete if Criterion B is marked above) n/a Cultural Affiliation N/a Architect/Builder DeRaffele Diners (New Rochelle, NY) Musi Dining Car Co. (Carteret, NJ) 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.) Previous documentation on file (NPS): Primary location of additional data: - preliminary determination of individual listing (36 x State Historic Preservation Office CFR 67) has been requested - Other State agency - previously listed in the National Register _ Federal agencyR - previously determined eligible by the National - Local government Register - University - designated a National Historic Landmark - Other _ recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey Name of repository: # _ recorded by Historic American Engineering Record #. NPS Form 1 10-900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number " 1 Page_ OMB Approval No.

1024-0018 DINERS OF MASSACHUSETTS MPS Corner Lunch Worcester (Worcester), MA 7. Description The Corner Lunch, 133 Lamartine Street, Worcester (ca. 1955, MHC #2061) is the best preserved sectional diner in Worcester and has the largest seating capacity of any diner in the city. The diner is important architecturally as an example of a sectional diner built by DeRaffele Diners, of New Rochelle, New York, and is significant under this multiple property submission for its remodeling in 1968 by Musi Dining Car Company, Inc., of Carteret, New Jersey. The Corner Lunch was moved to Worcester in 1968. One of at least five DeRaffele diners in Massachusetts, the Corner Lunchis the only DeRaffele diner in Worcester and reportedly is the only example of Musi's work in New England.

The diner is located on a small corner lot in an area of mixed uses directly south of Worcester's downtown business district. The area includes large-scale, late 19**-century, brick industrial buildings northwest of the diner, and a ca. 1900 residential neighborhood immediately north and east of the diner. The diner is oriented with its façade fronting the intersection of Lamartine Street, Lafayette Street, and Quinsigamond Avenue. The lot is paved for parking. The Corner Lunch is a steel-frame sectional diner with stainless steel cladding that incorporates horizontal and vertical bands in green porcelain enamel. The diner is approximately nine bays wide and five bays deep, excluding the rounded southwest corner bay. The low-profile, rounded hip roof features a fluted steel parapet.

Other steel ornament includes the panels with sunburst motifs in three bays of the south elevation, and the fluting on the steel apron at the rounded corner. The diner's south (right side) elevation is comprised of two sections that are finished in steel, glass, and porcelain enamel. The north (left side) elevation, however, has only one similarly finished section, while the remainder of this elevation, at the rear kitchen, is finished with concrete. Originally, the present kitchen block comprised the leftmost section of the diner (when viewed from the front). The 1968 remodeling reconfigured the diner so that the original leftmost section was removed, subsequently attached to the rear, and expanded to create the present rectangular footprint. The constraints of the building site indicate that the diner never existed in its original configuration in Worcester.

A character-defining feature of stainless steel diners that are contemporaries of the Corner Lunch is a projecting entry vestibule centered on the façade. At the Corner Lunch, however, the existing off-center entry vestibule is the result of the diner's 1968 remodeling. The steel and glass vestibule is roughly rectangular in massing, has a flat roof, and rests on a concrete foundation. There is a similarly designed entry vestibule on the north (left side) elevation of the diner. Windows in the diner are fixed plate glass. Flared stainless steel pilasters projecting between the windows serve an ornamental as well as functional purpose: they contain downspouts for channeling roof run-off to the ground. Fluted porcelain enamel corners offset by flared stainless steel pilasters are characteristic of DeRaffele diners of the 1950s.

[Gutman, p.154] Large-scale neon signage mounted on the roof reads CORNER LUNCH. On the interior, the Corner Lunch has a counter with sixteen stools and a center staff entrance. The stools have steel supports and upholstered seats with backrests. Booth seating is located along the west (front) wall and there is table seating with a banquette along the south wall. Counter stools and booths are upholstered in gold sparkle vinyl. The (continued) NPS Form 1 10-900-a (8-86) OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7/8 Page_2/1 DINERS OF MASSACHUSETTS MPS Corner Lunch Worcester (Worcester), MA plastic laminate on the countertop is a replacement, though dark green terrazzo tiles on the lower half of the counter apron and the footrests are original.

The patterned terrazzo floor is salmon, tan/yellow, and dark green in color. The monitor or cove ceiling is surfaced with yellow and salmon-colored porcelain enamel panels trimmed with steel. The back bar is finished with steel displaying a sunburst motif, the walls (below the windows) and tables are green plastic laminate, and the window jambs are steel. Archaeological Description No prehistoric resources are known on the property or in the general area (within one mile). In general, environmental characteristics of the property, especially its location on a level to moderately sloping landform over 1000 feet from wetland resources, are not locationally favorable for most types of prehistoric sites.

Given the above information, the small size of the parcel (less than one acre), its location in a mixed urban industrial/residential area, the presence of a now demolished 20" century diner on this property and an attached residential home on the neighboring parcel and impacts associated with construction of the present corner Lunch and its utilities, a low potential exists for the recovery of prehistoric resources on the property. There is also a low potential for the recovery of historic archaeological resources on the Corner Lunch property. Prior to construction of the earlier Corner Lunch also known as the Corner Spa on the property, no historic landuse has been identified for this location.

Any archaeological evidence that might survive from the previous Corner Lunch has limited research potential because of its recent age and probable loss of integrity due to construction of the existing business. (end) 8. Statement of Significance The Corner Lunch (ca. 1955, MHC #2061) is an important example of a remodeled, sectional stainless steel diner in Massachusetts. The diner is one of at least five diners in Massachusetts built by DeRaffele Diners of New Rochelle, New York, a company closely associated with the construction of large stainless steel diners in the 1950s. Originally located in Babylon (Long Island), New York, the diner was purchased by Musi Dining Car Company, Inc. of Carteret, New Jersey and subsequently moved to Worcester and reassembled in 1968. The Corner Lunch is reportedly the only example of the Musi company's work in New England.

The diner's relocation to Worcester is typical of the portable nature of diners and has not adversely affected its historic and architectural integrity. Architecturally, the Corner Lunch is of (continued) NPS Form 1 10-900-2 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page 2 OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 DINERS OF MASSACHUSETTS MPS Corner Lunch Worcester (Worcester), MA exceptional significance on both the local and state levels as an excellent illustration of one remodeling option made possible by the sectional nature of the diner's original design and construction. Historically, the Corner Lunch represents the growth of the Efstathiou family's business from a corner "spa," or lunchroom and store, to a restaurant operation.

Retaining integrity of design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, the Corner Lunch meets Criteria A and C and Criteria Considerations B and G of the National Register of Historic Places at the local and state levels. In the early 1950s, Wilfrid J. Bourassa operated the Corner Spa, a lunchroom and store, on the site of the existing diner. Bourassa resided in the adjacent double house (now demolished) at 131 Lamartine Street. The lunchroom and store were built onto the west side of the house, according to the 1950 Sanborn map. By 1956, the business was known as the Corner Lunch, with Demetrios Efstathiou as proprietor. City directories show that about the time the Corner Lunch was established, there were approximately 260 food establishments in Worcester, among them restaurants, grills, lunchrooms, diners, sandwich shops, cafeterias, and so-called dairy bars.

Efstathiou was still the proprietor of the Corner Lunch when the present diner was installed in 1968. Built by DeRaffele Diners in the mid-1950s, the diner was originally located in Babylon (Long Island), New York. In 1968, Musi Dining Car Company purchased and remodeled the diner and reassembled it in Worcester. The large house previously on the site, with its attached spa/lunchroom at the western corner, was demolished to accommodate the diner, which fronts the intersection of Lamartine Street, Lafayette Street, and Quinsigamond Avenue. As part of the remodeling, the Musi company removed the leftmost section of the diner and, upon reassembling the diner in Worcester, attached the section to the rear for use as a kitchen. The constraints of the building site indicate that the diner never existed in its original configuration in Worcester.

The Corner Lunch has the largest seating capacity of any diner in Worcester, and is one of three known sectional diners in the city. The other two, both considerably altered, are Messier's Diner, 49 Mill Street (1946, MHC #2082) and Stuart's Super Diner, 317 West Boylston Street (1948, MHC #2066). The sectional design allowed for the construction and transport of large diners. The spacious interior of the Corner Lunch also evokes a restaurant ambiance that is markedly different from the quintessential barrel-roof and monitor-roof lunch cars in Worcester and elsewhere in Massachusetts, which were built by the Worcester Lunch Car Company, Sterling Diners, and Jerry O'Mahony Inc., among others. The Corner Lunch reflects a trend in the industry, beginning in the 1950s, that saw diner owners striving to create a restaurant ambience, which was intended to be more family-oriented.

The family-oriented dining establishment provided an alternative to, and therefore could better compete with, the fast food chains. At the Corner Lunch, the curved booths along the west wall, table seating with banquette on the south wall, and counter stools with upholstered seat backs impart a restaurant appearance to the diner. (continued) NPS Form 1 10-900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 8 Page_ 3 DINERS OF MASSACHUSETTS MPS Corner Lunch Worcester (Worcester), MA DeRaffele Diners of New Rochelle, New York was established in 1947, the successor firm to Johnson & DeRaffele, which was formed in 1933. Angelo DeRaffele was a former carpenter and foreman with diner-builder P. J. Tierney Sons, Inc. of New Rochelle. He built diners with Carl A.

Johnson, a past president of Tierney, before becoming the sole owner of the business in 1947 and changing the name of the company to DeRaffele Diners. According to diner historian Richard Gutman, the DeRaffele firm followed diner trends through the decades, and was well known for its large diners. [Gutman, 228] The company is still in business. In 1966, Ralph Musi established the Musi Dining Car Company, Inc. of Carteret, New Jersey, two years before the company remodeled the Corner Lunch. Musi emigrated from Italy in 1947 and began his diner-building career working for Kullman Dining Car Company, also based in New Jersey. In addition to remodeling diners, Musi built new diners in colonial and Mediterranean styles. Like DeRaffele Diners, the Musi company is still in business.

[Gutman, 235] To be eligible for listing in the National Register under the Diners of Massachusetts multiple property format, a diner had to have been located in Massachusetts during its period of significance. In the context of Massachusetts diner history, the Corner Lunch is most significant as an example of the remodeling work of Musi Dining Car Company, as well as for its move to and reassembly in Worcester in 1968. The end-date for the historic context in the Diners of Massachusetts multiple property listing is ca. 1970. For the purpose of this nomination, then, the period of significance for the Corner Lunch has been identified as 1968-ca. 1970, rather than mid-1950s-ca. 1970. (end) Corner Lunch Name of Property Worcester,MA County, State 10. Geographical Data Acreage of Property less than one acre UTM References See continuation sheet.

(Place additional UTM references on a continuation sheet) 1. 19 268520 4631440 Zone Easting Northing ZZone Easting Northing Zone 3. Easting 4. Zone Easting _ See continuation sheet Verbal Boundary Description (Describe the boundaries of the property on a continuation sheet.) Boundary Justification (Explain why the boundaries were selected on a continuation sheet.) 11. Form Prepared By name/title_Kathleen Kelly Broomer, consultant, with Betsy Friedberg, NR Director, MHC organization Massachusetts Historical Commission street & number_ 220 Morrissey Boulevard _ telephone city or town_ Boston stateMA _ zip code_ _ date September 2000 617-727-8470 02125 Additional Documentation Submit the following items with the completed form: Continuation Sheets Northing Northing A USGS map (7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's location.

A sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources. Photographs Representative black and white photographs of the property. Additional items (Check with the SHPO or FPO for any additional items) Property Owner (Complete this item at the request of the SHPO or FPO.) name Denis Richard street & number _ 133 Lamartine Street _ telephone _ 508-755-5576 city or town. Worcester state MA _ zip code. 01608 Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.).

Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 18.1 hours per response including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Project (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503. NPS Form 1 10-900-a (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 9/10 Page 1 OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 DINERS OF MASSACHUSETTS MPS Corner Lunch Worcester (Worcester), MA 9.

Major Bibliographical References Menu for Corner Lunch, Worcester, MA (includes brief history of the diner). Gutman, Richard J. S. American Diner Then and Now. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1993. Polk's Worcester City Directory: various years, including 1953, 1954, 1956, 1968. Sanborn fire insurance maps for Worcester, 1936 (corrected to 1950), 1978. MHC Inventory Forms, Corner Lunch (MHC #2061), Messier's Diner (MHC #2082), and Stuart's Super Diner (MHC #2066), all recorded by Susan Ceccacci, September 1983. Diner Finder Deluxe: Massachusetts. Watertown, MA: Coffee Cup Publications, 1991. (end) 10. Geographical Data Verbal Boundary Description The boundary of the nominated property is shown on the accompanying detail of the City of Worcester's assessors' map. Boundary Justification The boundary includes the entire parcel that has been historically associated with the diner.

(end) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY NAME : Corner Lunch MULTIPLE NAME: Diners of Massachusetts MPS STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Worcester DATE RECEIVED: DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: 10/03/00 11/01/00 REFERENCE NUMBER: 00001286 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 10/16/00 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 11/17/00 REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL:N DATA PROBLEM: NLANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: OTHER: N PDIL: N PERIOD: PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N REQUEST: N SAMPLE: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: Y N COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT RETURN REJECT DATE ABSTRACT/ SUMMARY COMMENTS: ECOM. /CRITEIGIA REVIEWER TELEPHONE DISCIPLINE Nistouan DATE 11/15/00 DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N CORNER WUNGH SEAFOOD.- SCALLOPS FISH & CHIPS FRI.

NIGHTS tilL OPY To Go Call 755-5576 BREAKFAST SERVED ALL DAY 2eggs BAC.or SAUS Home Fries COFFEE 3. , 31 comer lunch 133 lamartine street Worcester Diners of Massachusetts MPS Plito: 1998 Neg: MHC ViUUSE EXII Pold Chip comerwuch 137 lamartive Street worcester Diners of massachusetts mPs Ploto: 1998 Neg: WHC VIUWNW RECEIVED 2280 OCT - 3 2000 NAT. PECISTED NATIONA PLACES The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Massachusetts Historical Commission September 29, 2000 Ms. Carol Shull Mail Stop 2280, Suite 400 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20240 Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed please find the following nomination form: The Corner Lunch, 133 Lamartine Street Worcester (Worcester), MA THE DINERS OF MASSACHUSETTS MPS The nomination has been voted eligible by the State Review Board and has been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer.

The owners of the property in the Certified Local Government community of Worcester were notified of pending State Review Board consideration 60 to 90 days before the meeting and were afforded the opportunity to comment. Sincerely, Beton Fiedheg Betsy Friedberg National Register Director Massachusetts Historical Commission enclosure CC: Dennis Richards, The Corner Lunch Kathleen Kelly Broomer, Preservation Consultant Mayor Raymond Mariano, City of Worcester Jody Kennedy Valade, Worcester CLG James Igoe, Preservation Worcester Bruce Bunke, Worcester Historical Commission Charles Goddard, OPCD, City of Worcester 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02125 - (617) 727-8470 Fax: (617) 727-5128 - TTY: (617) 878-3889 www.state.ma.us/sec/mhc