The History of The "Dinner Bell" Restaurant Chaffee, Missouri

1939 The History of the "Dinner Bell" Begins

Historical Note:  This "Midget" restaurant was really a home-built trailer that  could only seat about 8 patrons at a time and was located  across from the Horstman Theater.   This location is where the "Dinner Bell" was later established.  (where Stubbs Jeweler is now)   Fred's Wife was Marie (some of the young patrons called her "Miss Midget") and she did a lot of the cooking.   To our knowledge there are no photos of the original "Midget", but if any of our viewers knows of such photo, we would sure like to share it with our viewers

1940 The History of the "Dinner Bell"

The date the above photo of the DINNER BELL CAFE was taken is unknown, but we know it was before the postmark date of September 3, 1946 If you look close at the photo, you will see the "bell" on top of the building and also two speakers.   Perhaps you could "weigh" yourself at the penny weight machine just to the right side of the front door.

The "1cent" postage stamp has the picture of President Franklin D Roosevelt who died in 1945 This post card was sent from the owners of the "DINNER BELL CAFE", Fred & Marie Alvey to his brother Earl "Tobe" Alvey, (Parents of Jeanie Stroup) Exactly why this postcard survives to this day is unknown.  But it now has become a treasured part of the history of this community.

Historical Note: We have been told that the original "piano seat" stools that Fred Alvey purchased new for the DINNER BELL CAFE in 1940 or 1941 are still in use at Chaffee.   As of January 2002 the stools can be seen at the "No-Name Cafe".   We pass on this information but cannot verify its authenticity.

The following material is from the Southeast Missourian of Nov 26, 1954 Dinner Bell Owners Open Restaurant in Cape Mr. and Mrs. J.R. DePriest of Chaffee, MO. , assume management of the Alvarado; the couple has been in the restaurant business for the last 15 years and are owners of the Dinner Bell in Chaffee, which their daughter, Mrs. Kathryn Hancock, operates.   The material below is from the Chaffee Signal of March 7, 2004 (Page 3, Chaffee Chatters, Darla Buckhannon) Speakers Atop Dinner Bell Mark Hopkins was able to enlighten us regarding the purpose of the speakers atop the Dinner Bell.  They were used by ministers of the local churches for their Saturday afternoon or evening sermons. They would stand on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, preaching sometimes to as many as 400 or 500 people walking up and down the street, and sitting on the curbs and benches in front of the A&P, Horstman Theater and Toddle Inn across the street. Mark remembers one preacher following a man to a tavern, saying, "I see a good brother whose soul God loves headed for damnation.  He is headed for the den of drunks and harlots.  Don't go in.  Oh, no, he went in.  Another soul taken by the devil.  Don't let that happen to you, friend."

 

As more research material becomes available we will continue our review of the History of The "Dinner Bell".   We believe there may be additional photos of the "DINNER BELL CAFE" and also photos of the restaurant after Fred Alvey sold it."

Chaffee Historical Society
Box 185
Chaffee, Missouri