While most of the times spent at Diamond's were fun and innocent, there were, of course, times of scandal and betrayal. While all of this may seem like a really good plot background for Days of Our Lives, it's just another page in the book of Diamond's history. But then again . . .
It was a warm April day in Girard, Ohio. The year, 1975. It all seemed innocent enough, people milling about the streets, they were hungry and looking for some breakfast. Then out of the blue, two saviors appeared to save the hungry people. They appeared to be normal, everyday women carrying a sign. The hungry people looked around and read the sign. It read:
|
"What!!!" cried the people, "Free coffee at Diamond's restaurant!" The people were so amazed that they ran over to the women and asked them about their sign. "Sure," said the women, "Go to Diamond's Restaurant and there's free coffee and donuts in honor of John Diamond's new grandson, Jonathan!" The people were so amazed by this selfless act, "Free coffee and free donuts! This John Diamond character must be a saint!" Little did they know...
As it turned out these so-called saviors were none other than my grandmother, Mary Diamond, and another waitress at Diamond's restaurant, and close friend to the family, Pat Stonestreet. After hearing about my Aunt Karen's brand new, bouncing baby boy they decided that good old "Grandpa" John would just LOVE it if the entire city got to enjoy a little baby gift, on the house. They took their sign and walked all around town, inviting people to stop in and have free bite to eat and some coffee courtesy of John Diamond. Well, of course, people couldn't pass up this chance, so everyone came pouring into Diamonds, with congratulations for John, and expectations of free coffee and donuts. The only problem was that John had no idea about the free coffee and donuts. Mary and Pat hadn't told him. John didn't understand why everyone was coming into his restaurant so he sent the police out to solve the case. Finding the two women still on the sidewalks of the town they picked them up, put them in the cop car, and drove them down to the jail. They got arrested!
 |
 |
To teach them a lesson, my Uncle John left them in jail for a couple of hours. And while they appeared to have a great time in the big house, the story was even better. They made it into the papers that day, the "The Girard News" covered the story on Wednesday, April 16, 1975. With the announcement of Jonathan Michael Skibbe also came the arrest reports of Pat Stonestreet and Mary Diamod.