Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Hamburger Wagon Rolls into 105th Year + WIN FREE BURGERS !!

By 46 Comments

The Hamburger Wagon is approaching its 105th anniversary.  Some love them, some don’t. If you have not tried them yet, what are you waiting for ??  **

** NOW IS YOUR CHANCE, COMMENT BELOW and YOU WILL BE ENTERED TO WIN 10 Burgers or 5 Doubles!**

Sherman “Cocky” Porter in the soaked streets from the 1913 Great Flood

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY on the BEGINNING OF THE HAMBURGER WAGON:

The year was 1913. Daytonians know this as the year of the Great Flood of 1913.   The city was decimated by flood waters and finding fresh food that had not been contaminated was tough.  Miamisburg was no exception as floodwaters from the Great Miami River wreaked havoc in the village.  Miamisburg was virtually under water.  In emergency response, the Red Cross set up tents for displaced residents and workers at the top of the Mound Hill.

One of volunteers, made a decision that day, that would change history in Miamisburg.  His name was Sherman “Cocky” Porter. He knew with the cold weather, people needed a warm food which was easy to produce in mass quantities.   He decided on an old favorite family recipe of hamburgers.  The tasty burgers were a huge hit and grew in popularity across the city.

The Book that put The Hamburger Wagon in the top 100 in the USA”

As the floodwaters receded, the tent city closed and life in Miamisburg returned to normal.  But by then an addiction had been started.  Miamisburg residents loved the little “Porter Burgers” so much that he kept up with the demand and served customers everyday.  After the flood, Sherman Porter kept his hamburger wagon open, selling burgers on Saturdays. They were so popular it soon became a full-time operation and the rest is history.  Fast forward to 2018 – One Hundred and Five Years Later, and not much has changed.

HERE’S THE SKINNY on TODAY‘S HAMBURGER WAGON:

—The wagon you see today is not the original on, it is a refurbished , close replica.

 

— in 2018 The Hamburger Wagon menu has 5 items:
Hamburger $1.25
Chips $1.25
Can of Pop $1.25
Double Burger $2.50 

—The burgers are smashed cooked/flash fried in a deep, iron pan in an inch of oil.  They are topped with a round white  onion slice, a pickle sliced long ways.   The burgers are given a shake of salt and pepper.  The result is a one of a kind taste and a signature crunch.

The Legendary Burger from Hamburger Wagon

— On very busy days, the wagon sells around 1,500 burgers

—Super Secret Hamburer Wagon Meat Recipe:  For over 100 years the recipe has been a guarded and secured in a vault of secrecy.  Rumors abound of a little bit of sausage being in the meat, but Food Adventures cannot confirm or deny this.

—The Hamburger Wagon’s mantra is “We don’t need no stinking condiments, no cheeses or sloppy sauces.”

 

Six people have owned the Hamburger Wagon over the century, the latest being Dayton native, Jack Sperry.

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON THE OWNER, JACK SPERRY:

— In 2008 Jack bought the Hamburger Wagon, and has since launched 2 more mobile wagons for private events, parties

Wagon Owner, Jack Sperry

and festivals.

— Jack is a former All State Football player at Centerville High School for the class of 1980.  He is also an Ohio state graduate.

— Mr. Sperry has 2 daughters and is very involved with Miamisburg happenings.  For example, he is instrumental in organizing the Rock N Green tomato festival each year in Miamisburg.

 

 

NATIONAL RECOGNITION:
The Book “Hamburger America” gave The Hamburger Wagon a national shout out in their book.  The book highlights their opinion of the best 150 hamburgers in the USA.

 

Smashing and splashing – frying up burgers

MUST EATS at the HAMBURGR WAGON:

—THE HAMBURGERS:
You have to try the legend. Take a bite out of the icon with the crisp onion and pickle. Devour the crunchy patty, and take a step back in time. The burger bun also adds to the goodness.

—THE DOUBLE:
The Big Ragu says this is the best thing on the menu. Why? Because the onion can be a little powerful, and the double deadens some of that. Breathe less fire, get the double burger.

 

The bottom line is that if you are bit of a Food Adventurer, you will have already tried these  or will be trying them soon.  Go for the single and double – tell us which one you like better.

*****WANT TO WIN 10 BURGERS or 5 DOUBLES?  You can have lunch with the Big Ragu and Food Adventure Crew on a bench or get them to go .  TO ENTER THE CONTEST COMMENT BELOW AT THE END OF THE PHOTOS *****

Feel free to browse the gallery of photos below.

For more of Dayton’s iconic foods, follow FOOD ADVENTURES on Facebook by clicking here.  Don’t forget to check back each and every week for our feature article right here on Dayton Most Metro !

 

The Double Burger !

Eat this !

Damn strong onion

Line em up !

Fry daddy

Big Ragu thanks you

A Triple Double – Ragu stacked 3 double burgers up

squish, spin, fry and repeat

tucked away like puppies

A Hamburger from the wagon awaits you

Drink choices are water and pops

its a wagon

Ragu says bring in MIKESELLS !

View from downtown

Big Ragu chomps a burger

oooh that onion

No stinkin condiments

Lay em out serve it up

Hurry up – weeze hungry

America at its best

Big or little orders

Pickles and buns

since 1913

We loves dem burgers

Slide a burger on

Big Ragu says try the doubles

Miamisburgs gift to the world

Big Ragu and You – eating burgers on a bench

Reader Interactions

[fbcomments width="700" count="on" num="15" countmsg="Comments"]

Comments

  1. The best hamburgers EVER! I would love to win them but I must admit…even if I don’t win, I’ll buy them anyway :-). Some things are just worth the money!!

  8. Every time we visit my family in the Dayton area, from Mobile Alabama, we have to stop by the Hamburger Wagon at least once. It’s a tradition. The burgers are fantastic and reasonable. I grew up visiting the Hamburger Wagon before moving South.

  9. Every time we go to maimisburg we have stop and some burgers. We live in New paris ohio

  14. Hamburger wagon is the best hamburger, I craved them when I was pregnant with all my 3 kids and made my hubby stop all the time and get me some before he came home from work, even if I made dinner. Lol

  18. Nothing in the world like a Wagon Burger!!! When our family comes from Georgia it’s a must stop for wagon burgers!!! Would love to win some!!!

  19. Those look delicious. I have heard about the hamburger wagon but have never had the opportunity to try.

  21. Been a family tradition for 30 years now. Always stop in and get a sack of burgers. Great service and the best thing in the historical block of miamisburg.

  22. Last time I visited the wagon you had to go across the street to get chips. Wagners I think it was. And bring your own drink. Win some or buy some, I gotta get out there soon. I’ve spend two decades trying to duplicate, unsuccessfully.

  25. We love the hamburger wagon. I’ve going since I was a kid. Over 45 years. Best burgers ever!!!!

  34. My fondest memory, Is when I would visit my Grandma in Miamisburg, and she would take us to The Hamburger Wagon for lunch. She’s no longer with us as It was over 50 Years ago,but the memory lives on.

  35. I had never tried them till last year for the first time in Sept and I had to go back the next weekend to get more they are the best I wish you had one closer to Dayton would eat every weekend very good on your family coming upwith this recipe the best little hamburger ever.

  37. The “hamburger wagon” has been a family tradition for us since my great grandfather—This special hamburger is now enjoyed by my 3 grandchildren—(Six generations)!!!! We have told hundreds of people about them and have to say there’s no hamburger quite like a Miamisburg hamburger!! We ♥️ Them!!!! If you haven’t tried them YOU should!!!

  38. Yumdillicious! We love, love, love these little burgers! Definitely worth the drive from Kettering!

  39. My wife and I love to ride the Harley from Fairborn to my hometown to get these burgers. They are the best!

  40. In the early nineteen eighties I managed the limousine service out of sorrels garage when I think of good memories I think of the wagon only thing better than their burgers is the smell of them cooking

  43. I grew up in Miamisburg and the presence of the burger wagon is something sacred to those of us who grew up there. Just thinking of them (the burgers) makes my mouth water and brings back fonder memories of my home-town and also reminds me (and many others) of a simpler time and place in America that is all but gone now… glad that the burger wagon is part of that little piece of the past that remains… here’s to another 100 plus years.

  46. My family (the original Porters) had a family get together in Florida and Porter Burgers were on the menu. Wish this would allow me to post a picture.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *