Dick's 40th Anniversary Memory Book ©1993

MEMORIES: Oldest Memories

Youth is indeed an admirable characteristic, but it wouldn't have brought you a prize in this category. Oh no, you would have to be 40 and then some to hold the oldest memories of Dick's. So step aside young diners, and listen to the tales of those who remember Dick's from the very beginning. From someone who used to live next door. From someone whose father delivered the first hamburger buns to Dick's and from others who remember the 1950's just like they were yesterday.

Grand Prize Winner

Life just gets better when a Dick's goes in next door
After reminiscing for several weeks, the enclosed letter compiles my thoughts. My! What wonderful memories! I am thankful for them all. The years pass too quickly.

Although many years have passed since we've been in touch, Dick's, you and Warren will always be a special part of my family memories and lives. Although Warren is no longer connected with the Drive-In, I've forwarded him a copy of this letter.

The birth of Dick's Drive-In was the beginning of an important and wonderful part of the Charles Swanson Family. After living at 4421 2nd Ave. NE for twenty-one years the large vacant lot, next to our home, bordered by 1st Ave. NE 2nd Ave. NE and East 45th street, was going to be occupied with a Drive-In. With anticipation and excitement we witnessed Dick's construction. Finally on the grand opening day on January 1954 the juicy 19 cent hamburgers, and crisp 11 cent fries and the creamy 21 cent shakes were worth waiting for.

Warren Ghormley and Dick Spady, two of Dick's owners, became our special and dear friends. Throughout the years our family could always depend on their support, concern and help.

I am proud that four generations of the Swanson family have worked for Dick's. My dad, Charles Swanson, was a maintenance employee for about five years. At the age of eighty years old, he was the only one who cleaned out the grease vent. He made the coffee mug shelf that held employee's mugs for many years. Thank you, Warren and Dick, for the enjoyment and happiness you gave my dad-employing him at that age. He looked upon you as sons and was so proud and happy your endeavors in this business venture were successful.

The plans for the wood decking my husband, Art Hoglund, built for Dick's Drive-In are still in my files.

In 1963, when my son, John Hoglund, graduated from high school he started working at Dick's for almost five years. As a family it was exciting to have him wait on us as we ordered. The thing he missed most during his time in Vietnam was Dick's cheeseburgers. Ralph Holbrook, the store manager at 45th, almost fainted the day John sliced the tip of his finger in the potato slicer, requiring twenty stitches.

The fourth person in our family to be employed at Dick's was my granddaughter, Tami Hoglund. Although therefore a short time she was impressed by the recognition she received--her great grand father, and grandfather and dad preceded her--working at Dick's Drive-In.

Being the Swanson back yard was adjacent to the Drive-In there was a gate in the fence and employees were always welcome.

It was embarrassing the time a Dick's employee had to retrieve my car keys that had accidentally fallen in the trash can. I remember the row of free, empty ice cream cartons lined up along the storage garage. I still have one in use as a wastebasket. They were so useful!

When my youngest son, Jim Hoglund, was in first grade the only way to encourage him to go to school was to take him to Dick's for lunch. After a month it was hard to look at another hamburger. After I made the remark to Ron Clinton, he took my hamburger, putting on relish and lettuce. That hamburger was probably the first Dick's special. No wonder Dick's Drive-In have been successful with owners who are concerned with other's needs, have a willingness to cooperate, possess a friendly attitude, have high moral standards and a desire to please others. A good example, was permitting the members of the Nazarene church to park in the east side of the Drive-in's parking lot on Sunday mornings before our home was razed, or permitting my dad to sell Christmas trees on the Dick's parking lot in 1954 where he had sold trees for twenty years before there was a Dick's Drive-In. Especially their concern for my mother's welfare-going to court and enabling her to remain in the house we called home for thirty-four years for her last years.

Although our family home at 4421 2nd Ave. NE is gone, and I glance down the street to where we lived each time I pass, there is a satisfaction and comfort seeing 45th Street Dick's Drive-In-a place holding many fond memories of the Swanson family and their relationship with Dick's Drive-In. Thank you, Warren and Dick for making these memories possible.
Joan Hoglund Age: 72

Oldest Memories: Runners-up

Been around since the beginning
Lived nearby (mom still does). Was there for the "Grand Opening." Went to Lincoln High School. Hung out at Dick's every weekend. Good old 19 cent hamburgers. Still eat there when we go to visit mom.
Chuck Jensen Age: 55

Remember when Mr. Swanson used to sell Christmas trees in the lot?
When we moved to 2nd Ave. NE, across from us were two vacant lots and two houses. The south lot was filled with blackberry bushes and on the north lot at Xmas time Mr. Swanson sold Xmas trees. This lot became Dick's and Mr. Swanson became the yard maintenance man. My oldest son Bob helped Mr. Swanson by jumping on boxes to flatten them and helping clean up the lot to make way for the Grand Opening.

Later two other boys, Warren and Jim where the first courtesy neighborhood cleaners for Dick's. They wore white shirts, and Dick's kerchiefs and hats. They carried a Dick's ice cream bucket and cruised the neighborhood picking up thrown away Dick's paper products.
June Menzie (neighbor) Age: 73

Delivering the buns, even on holidays
My late father, "Rich" Richards was the route driver for Langendorf bakeries in the 45th and Wallingford area when Dick's opened. I remember how happy he was when he got the first bun contract with Dick's. I remember riding in his truck as a child and helping him make his delivery there and I remember him dutifully giving up holiday family time to drive to the bakery from home and make special deliveries of buns when Dick's had more business than they expected. Dad admired Dick for sticking with good quality supplies. Up to his death, Dad would take my grandparents once a week to the lower Queen Anne Dick's for lunch. They, too loved Dick's food into their 90's. Dick's is a family tradition and had been since day one!!!!!
Sharon L, Sweeting Age: 53

Taste-testing those famous Dick's fries
My friend Bill Baker and I were the first to eat Dick's french fries. When we were 14 in 1954 we lived 2 blocks from Dick's new drive-in on 45th and 1st Ave. NE.
We happened to be at Dick's when Dick was testing his french fry equipment before he opened. He saw us watch him and he gave us each a bag of fries.
George Walter Age: 53

19 cent burgers, imagine that!
When I was living in the University District, 1918-1977, I bought Dick's 19 cent hamburgers at the 2nd Ave. NE and 45th location. After school many times and also after walking over to the 45th street theater and back. We lived at 4534 7th Ave. NE at a little 5 room house my father built in 1927. 19 cent hamburgers? WOW!
Ralph M, Ernst Age:81

She worked at Dick's on opening day
My name is Verna Kroll. I'm 73 years old. I worked at Dick's when it first opened on NE 45th. I remember hand dipping malts back then-just like you do now. Fries were 11 cents. We wore white uniforms. I was earning extra money so my husband and I could build a new house in Lake City.

My oldest daughter graduated in 1957 from Roosevelt and spent many a weekends hanging out at Dick's on NE 45th.

My other daughter graduated from Nathan Hale in 1967 and did the same at Dick's in Lake City.
Verna Kroll Age: 73
Former Employee Wallingford, 1954

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