Peter Pan Drive-Inn
"Just
Good Food" was served at 611 Helena Ave. for over 30 years
ORIGINAL
LOCATION: 46°35'33.90"N
112° 2'9.33"
Peter
Pan Interior, ca. 1940
COURTESY
OF JACK RUDIO, VIA CAROL SYNNESS • CLICK
ON IMAGE TO OPEN A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
COURTESY
OF JACK RUDIO, VIA CAROL SYNNESS • CLICK
ON IMAGE TO OPEN A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
|
Built
and opened in 1940 by William Ferrat (1886-1967), the Peter
Pan changed hands at least twice before closing in the mid-1970s
and being moved to make way for the cutting through of Cruse
Avenue during Helena's Urban Renewal phase.
The Streamline
Moderne style of the interior was up-to-date in 1940,
and is still appealing today. The jukebox is a 1940 Seeburg
'Colonel' model.
The final
occupant of the building before it was moved from Helena Ave.
was likely the Buckland Insurance Agency, which first occupied
the building in 1973.
|
On
the Map...
1955 aerial photo of
the Peter Pan superimposed on a recent satellite image.
Cruse St. now cuts through the site.
| The grand
opening of the Peter Pan was held Oct. 12, 1940. William Ferrat
sold out in 1943 to his son-in-law, W. A. Gelhausen, who sold
out in 1963 to William F. Howard. |
COURTESY
OF JACK RUDIO, VIA CAROL SYNNESS
Ashtray
from the Peter Pan
Peter
Pan Bowling Team Blouse
|
This
blouse belonged to Betty Borsberry Foster; photo courtesy
of her son, Patrick Foster.
|
1965 Renovation
| Half-page
Independent Record newspaper ad for the grand opening of the
renovated Peter Pan, Dec. 12, 1965. The mansard-roofed addition
was added then, as well as a "Parisian" decor. |
1965
Addition
| The French-style
addition to the front of the original building was built in
1965. This rather poor image is from online newspaper archives. |
Derelict
for Years
COURTESY
OF KERRY BROWN • CLICK ON IMAGE FOR
A LARGE VIEW IN A NEW WINDOW •
|
The Peter
Pan Drive-Inn building, sitting derelict in 2008 on private
land near the corner of Boulder Ave. and Blaine St., two miles
east of its original location at 611 Helena Ave.
On September
18, 2009, the rear, older section of the building was moved
to private property on East Sierra Drive in the Helena Valley
(scroll down this page for photos of the move and of the building
at its current location).
|
The
Derelict Building, 2008
COURTESY
OF KERRY BROWN
The
Peter Pan Building on the Move ~ September 18, 2009
Photos by Kerry Brown
|
Kerry
Brown writes:
"I
was driving west on Custer Ave. last Friday morning [Sept.
18 2009] and the traffic was stalled. When we finally started
moving I saw the problem. It was the Peter Pan restaurant
being pulled down the Frontage road (sans the front portion
with windows and doors.) I took a couple of pictures before
it was hauled on to Sierra Road, possibly to its next home.
I could not follow any further as I had an appointment. Old
dogs never die, they just move to new yards."
Thanks,
Kerry, for sharing your serendipitous photos of the Peter
Pan!
|
Turning
East on Sierra Drive
The
Peter Pan Building's New Location on Sierra Drive
Photos by Terry Bass ~ November 2009
| The Peter
Pan building is now located on private property in the 1900
block of East Sierra Drive in the Helena Valley. It will converted
into a shop. It's good to know that will be put to use after
all these years. Many thanks to Terry Bass for the fine photos! |
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