235.The Rainbow Restaurant - Jackie Metz. (1960s)

RCHS Blog Post Number 235. 

The Rainbow Restaurant - Jackie Metz

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The Rainbow Restaurant - Jackie Metz  

Journal-Herald, by Jacquelin Gustin.

 

  Twenty-five years in the restaurant business will end Saturday, December 30, 1967, for Mrs. Dale (Jackie) Metz when she officially retires at about 12:30 p.m.

  Mrs. Metz began her restaurant-managing career in 1942 when she and her family purchased a confectionery store from Tommy Ghocpalle in Galion, Ohio. They managed the shop in that city until 1946 when they purchased the Rainbow restaurant in Winchester from Duane Wickersham. At that time Wickersham also ran a small bakery along with the restaurant, but the bakery business prospered to the degree that he divided the two and sold the restaurant.

  Mrs. Metz has managed the present restaurant since 1946 and revealed that she has seen many changes in that length of time. She lists the changes as follows; When they started business they served dinners for 65 cents and now they are $1; at present there is more of a trend for people to eat out and, consequently, the restaurant business has prospered; the public demands more salads and less starches in its menus and more diet food is served today than ever before.

  For 21 years Mrs. Metz had the assistance of her son-in-law, Leon Hendrickson, and her daughter, Ruhama Hendrickson. In October of 1966 Mrs. Metz and Hendrickson sold the restaurant. Hendrickson now owns a coin shop in Dayton, Ohio, and Mrs Hendrickson owns and manages a dress shop in Dayton.

  During the early years, basketball teams were served meals following games, along with many, many teen-agers. At one time teen-agers lined up outside the restaurant waiting to get in to be served while their favorite basketball team was being served. This was during the late forties and on through the early fifties. At this time hamburgers were sold for 20 cents and French fries for 15 cents. These two favorites, along with chili, composed the teens favorite menu. Another specialty of the restaurant at this time was it's own homemade ice cream.

  The Rainbow restaurant was the favorite hangout for Yellow Jacket basketball team fans who gathered there along with fans of the McKinley and Lincoln schools to discuss county basketball and various other happenings. The Rainbow during this period of time was the favorite meeting spot of both young and old.

 On many occasions during tourney time, following midnight shows at the Lyric and Cozy theaters and after other happenings in the community, teen-agers would pack the restaurant, enjoy the music and generally have the place in a state of havoc, Mrs. Metz said.

  When the basketball tourney was moved from Winchester to Farmland in the late forties, the Rainbow was still the favorite spot for the young people of the county who drove from the tourney site and continued to eat at the local establishment following the close of the evening sessions.  

  During this time Mrs. Metz also helped, along with other members of her family, at their skating rink on North Main street. This later was sold and is the present location of the Overmyer Mould Corporation pattern shop. Her family during the growing up period assisted at the restaurant and with the skating rink. The family includes Patsy McManes, now of Columbus, Ohio and the wife of Dr. Joseph McManes; Richard Rhoades, who moved back to this community in November of this year from California where he had resided for several years, and her oldest daughter, Ruhama, who worked for twenty years in the restaurant along with her husband, Leon Hendrickson.

  During this long time family business venture, they were robbed four times and one time since Stanley Hendrickson purchased the restaurant.

  The restaurant presently is for sale again, as Hendrickson is suffering from ill health.

  Mrs. Metz is planning to assist on a one-day-week basis for Hendrickson, until the restaurant is sold, then plans to spend her time enjoying her six grandchildren, knitting and perhaps doing some traveling.

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Would you like a book to learn more about local history? 

Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"
Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop or send an email to arrange placing a mail order.

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