Minerva in Stark County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Mark's Dairy Bar on Lincoln Way
Mark's Dairy Bar was operated by Betty. She was quite the multi-tasker; preparing food, serving, washing dishes, socializing with customers and, all the while, raising three very young kids in the home attached to the restaurant.
Mark’s Dairy Bar was a favorite of passing truckers, blue-collar workers and Minerva High School students. They would come in to enjoy Betty’s jaw breaker hamburgers, foot-long Coneys, hand-cut french fries, milkshakes and generous banana splits. MHS students would play their favorites on the beautiful old Wurlitzer jukebox. They would dance and, with the help of her three kids, drive Betty nuts!
Before McDonald’s, Arby’s and Burger King, there were small diners throughout the USA. These diners became part of Americana just like apple pie and baseball. Mark and Betty’s diner contributed to that culture and provided the wonderful village of Minerva with a place to enjoy that Golden Era.
When the Lincoln Way Bridge was rebuilt in 1934, the power plant provided steam heat through a system of embedded pipes to keep the surface free of snow and ice. On occasion, the plant would "blow up" (as we kids would say) and the power and lights would go out throughout the village. The kids would run outside to enjoy the excitement of a dark Minerva.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Lincoln Highway series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1947.
Location. 40° 43.89′ N, 81° 5.995′ W. Marker is in Minerva, Ohio, in Stark County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Lincoln Highway (U.S. 30) and Radloff Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Marker is mounted at eye-level near the entrance to restaurant currently at this location. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 404 East Lincolnway, Minerva OH 44657, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. William Pennock (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Minerva Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away); Minerva Ohio First Gas Station (approx. ¼ mile away); Soldiers and Sailors (approx. ¼ mile away); Minerva East Lawn Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Great Trail (approx. 0.8 miles away); Charles E. Wilson (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named The Great Trail (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Minerva.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 173 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on January 4, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.