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Getting Corny – Cozy Dog Drive In
Back in the early 1940’s Ed Waldmire was traveling through Oklahoma when he stumbled upon something called a corn dog. It was a unique lunch consisting of a hotdog baked in corn bread. While delicious, Ed couldn’t help but notice that it took too long to prepare. Perhaps it was the wait for this one-of-a-kind sandwich that allowed him the time to start pondering a sluggish flaw in this otherwise perfect meal.Gorup de Besanez, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia CommonsHe related this predicament to a friend whose father was a baker and then Ed forgot all about that fated meal. To his surprise he heard from this friend years later. Ed was in the air force at the time, stationed at the Amarillo Airfield. Behind the scenes, Waldmire’s friend and his baker father had been concocting a mix that could coat a dog and be fried quickly in a deep fryer.United States Army Air Forces, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsPackages of corn mix began arriving at the base which soon became the testing grounds for Ed Waldmire’s new invention – the “Crusty Cur.” The coated dogs were stuck on cocktail forks and introduced at the USO Club and the base PX. Soon they were selling by the thousands. Gorup de Besanez, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia CommonsAfter Ed Waldmire’s honorable discharge in 1946, he returned home to Springfield, Illinois where he started his unique hot dog business up again. Thanks to his wife Virginia, Ed was convinced to change the name “crusty curs” to the more civilized name “cozy dogs.” We also have Mrs. Waldmire to thank for illustrating the iconic symbol that is now associated with the Cozy Dog Drive In: Two hot dogs cozying up to each other in a loving embrace.Gorup de Besanez, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia CommonsWhen the business started in 1946, it was simply a roadside stand outside of the Waldmires’ residence. Ed also started selling his dogs at the Illinois State Fair. Word quickly spread about the newest All-American meal to hit the national food court. By 1949 the Cozy Dog Drive In opened its doors on Route 66 South Sixth Street where dogs were sold for a reasonable 15 cents. The restaurant became a staple for Springfield and for travelers along the DBH.Gorup de Besanez, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia CommonsIn 1996 the Cozy Dog Drive In moved again to 2935 S 6th Street where it remains today. The Cozy Dog In is still in the Waldmire family (now run by Ed Waldmire’s grandson) – and not much has changed. Gorup de Besanez, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia CommonsCozy dogs are sold daily and cooked with the same formula used back in the 1940s. Located directly on Route 66, this is a necessary stop for Mother Road travelers. Inside you’ll find memorabilia from the route, as well as souvenirs from Springfield, IL. Staples like cozy dogs, hamburgers, and chicken sandwiches are all on the menu for under $10. It’s the type of restaurant that has failed to keep up with the times – and that’s what we love about it.National Archives and Records Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
