Jefferson Highway Café
In Cameron
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In 1916 when the Jefferson Highway route through Cameron was settled, local businessman Ben Sullivan realized there would be an increase in traffic generated by the new roadway. He named his business the Jefferson Highway Café. It was located at Third and Walnut streets, the busiest intersection in town.
The advertisements seen below were taken from the Cameron Daily Observer in 1916 and 1917. They appeared in nearly every issue and presented Mr. Sullivan's café as a better than average café with steam tables to keep food warm and fresh and proclaiming that "Some Men live to eat, while other eat to live. Either class may obtain abundant satisfaction here." The intersection was so popular it soon became the location of the Ocean to Ocean café which celebrated the other cross country highway that travelled through Cameron. |
The Jefferson Highway Café was a family business. Seen above from left to right are sisters Mamie Sullivan, Elizabeth Sullivan and Julie Sullivan. Mamie Sullivan married Martin Murphy Sr. in 1916. She is the mother of Martin Murphy Jr. who submitted this photo to the Depot Museum. Our thanks also to Gary Murphy of Ben Lee Real Estate for his help in researching and documenting this great piece of Cameron and Jefferson Highway History.
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Ben Sullivan kept an advertisement running in the Cameron Daily Observer every week for years. The ads seen here show his clever knack for making his café attractive to locals and travelers in Cameron. One ad highlights "Cantaloupe and Watermelon on Ice. Ice Cream and Cake." Another announces the installation of a "Steam Table, Keeps Lunches Hot for all Hours, Day or Night. |
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