The Queen of the Valley Diner was opened in 1954 at 1730 Penn Avenue in Wyomissing Hills, and sat just down from the old Iron Bridge that crossed the railroad. It was opened and first operated by a man named Clyde F. Snyder. Later it was bought by Charles and Gloria Schwambach. The Schwambach’s later owned the Hitching Post Restaurant, also on Penn Avenue but further down in West Lawn, and then Schwambach’s Diner on Route 61 in Temple.
The diner was named after a famous locomotive that ran between Jersey City, New Jersey and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The train, which served as a passenger and mail carrier, began runs in 1911 and was operating six days a week by the 1930s. The Queen of the Valley passed right behind the diner on the Reading Railroad’s Lebanon Valley line out to its final destination in Harrisburg. By the 1960s the route was shortened from Allentown through Reading to Harrisburg. It was ran daily until it was terminated in 1967.
The Queen of the Valley suffered a fire in July of 1959 after being struck by a lightning bolt. It had to be completely rebuilt and the damage of the fire was estimated to be $80,000.
The Queen of the Valley Diner was sold by the Schwambach’s in 1972 when the land it sat on was taken by eminent domain by PennDot. The proposed highway construction plan was to connect 422/Penn Ave all the way to the Warren street bypass. At this time, the Schwambach’s opened the Hitching Post Restaurant in the Springmont section of West Lawn. The buyer, Edward Pusknik, claimed to have purchased the diner for a friend who was looking to buy one. The “friend” was away in Europe and Pushnik only had about a week to move the structure before the state needed it gone. I can find no record of if the structure was actually moved, or where it ended up.
Thank you for posting this. My parents took me there to eat often during the ’60’s. I too have been unsuccessful in finding any references to it online.
https://berksnostalgia.com/queen-of-the-valley-diner/
Spent so many days in the diner with the girls or the Kent Club..
“The Queen” was always busy….and “the” place to go !
I grew up in West Lawn. My grandmother was the hostess/cashier there for many years including the time of the fire. I remember the one cook’s name was Bill. I was only about 8 when it burned and to this day I remember the smell after the fire!
The Queen of the Valley (named for the daily train that ran from Jersey City to Harrisburg) was managed by a silver-haired lady named Alice (Mike M.’s grandmother?). I don’t know who owned it before Chuck Schwambach bought it in 1959. We lived not too far from the Iron Bridge and we regularly walked the tracks to the “Queen” to hang out for a while – late 1950s and early 1960s.
Alice had her hands full on Friday nights in 1962 . all the local kids came in to hang out . they put a dollar in their gas tanks and saved distance it’s or so for French fries and gravy . Alice , who I remember more as a well made up bleached blond than a grey haired lady had a twin sister who managed a diner out in Muhlenberg Twp
They had the best hot roast beef sandwiches.
[…] was opened and originally owned by Charles Schwambach, who also owned the Queen of the Valley Diner, located east up Penn Avenue by the old Iron […]
This mentions about the highway changes removing the diner. For interest and memories, as part of the changes, additional demolition included Worley’s Lumber Yard, Penn Iron Works, Esterly’s car lot, Best Brother’s Paints (with the large paint can on the roof), a gas station, Weber’s Deerskin, a house or two, the Wyomissing Hills bus stop building, Schell’s drive in restaurant, a laundromat, a bank next to Victor’s Cafe and an auto repair garage (formerly a DeSoto dealership). A lot of memories.
Hi Paul. I’m Sandy Esterly Ruffner. My dad was Jack Esterly-owner of the car lot. My uncle Carl Esterly had a gas station across the street from my dad’s car lot. I was wondering if you have any pictures with the car lot in it? My niece is researching my family’s history. If you do, please let me know. Thank you.
I knew that area well. The only gas station I can think of is Steffy’s Atlantic gasoline station on the north east corner of Hillside Road and Penn Avenue. There was a car lot across the road, but I don’t know if that is the one you are talking about.
A friend told me that there was a City Service station in that area. Next to Steffy’s Atlantic? I don’t remember it. Any photos of this area?
Joe’s Amoco was on the same side of the street as the queen of the valley diner — there for years — also demolished
Hello. My Dad (Russ Peffley and Uncle , Harold Peffley) were builders in West Lawn. Under my grandfather’s company. R G.Peffley & Sons). Raymond G. Peffley.
Lots of homes 1920’s, thru 1980.
The area was my playground. We lived across the road from Worley’s Lumber at 1612 Penn Avenue – that was the Penn Avenue spur. The Delta Apartments were there, too. I would just cross the tracks to get to the various businesses. I spent some of my youth in those years looking around Worley’s store – so much time, that the cashiers started giving me a 15% discount. I was in my early teens. I was familiar with the Penn Iron Works next to Worley’s, and we bought paint at Best Brothers. One thing about Victor’s Cafe: They made the best cheesesteaks in the area – and this was a few years later; I was twenty-three years old before I went to Victor’s. Good memories. A few of us used to play under the Iron Bridge, too.
[…] In West Wyomissing, there used to be a pedestrian footbridge that connected Morwood Avenue to Penn Avenue. It was built by the Reading Railroad to help commuters who lived in West Wyo to get to the trolly lines on Penn Ave easily. A nearby establishment was Queen of the Valley Diner. […]
Alice was the original owner. My father and mother Chuck and Joan Schwambach bought the diner from Alice in 1967. You might remember all of the Elvis pictures on the wall when Alice owned it. My parents changed the decor. Dick Hinnershitz and Petro were the main cooks. My dad would always buy fresh fruits and vegetables that were in season. They had home cooked meals for unbelievable low prices. I still have the menu. When they tore down the diner my parents bought the Imperial Club.and called it the Hitching Post. They built two sides. One was an upscale diner and the Tally Ho room was fine dining. They would have old time bands play in the Tally Ho room. I hope I answered some of the questions
Just had a question about Alice whom I remember quite well. A silver-haired and soft-spoken lady, she was very pleasant to us all even though we were hell-raising teens!
Hello Joni,
Happen to be reading about “Queen of the Valley”, and saw your name. I was a friend of yours in high school(Wilson). You moved to Governor Mifflin school district, where I visited you just once. You let me use your yellow car to take my drivers test at the State Police Barracks. I think of you every once in a while and wonder how you’re doing. Such a very long time ago. Just wanted you to know that I enjoyed your friendship, your mom and dad were always kind to me. Take care dear friend.
Sincerely,
Vickie Stief Lykens