The building shown in this image was the home of the first kindergarten held in the United States, which was founded by Margarethe Schurz in 1856 in Watertown, Wisconsin.
The description states:
First Kindergarten in the United States — founded by Margarethe Meyer Schurz in 1856 in Watertown, Wisconsin. Building moved from original site to Octagon House grounds in 1956 and restored by the Watertown Historical Society in 1957. Open to the public daily from May to November.
–There is an extensive and detailed history of this building recounted here.
Since the description states the dates of transfer and restoration, it is probable that this card dates from the 1950s.
Category: Postcards From Another Millennium
Postcards from various decades of the 20th century.
Octagon House, Watertown, Wisconsin
This image shows the front entrance of the Octagon House, located in Watertown, Wisconsin.
The description states:
438X
OCTAGON HOUSE, WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN
The Octagon House is the most interesting landmark of early Watertown. It was built by the Hon. John Richards and completed about 1852. There are 57 rooms built around a spiral stairway. It was presented to the Watertown Historical Society in January, 1939.
–This image is unusual in that it was taken while the building was incomplete, and not representative of the original construction. Over the years, the wooden porches around the first and second floor became unsafe and were demolished in 1938, leaving the building in the condition seen here. The porches were reconstructed in the 1970s and again in the early 2000s.
This card is dated 1951.
Boettcher Deer Farm, Hayward, Wisconsin
This image shows several children feeding a family of tame white-tailed deer at the Boettcher Deer Farm in Hayward, Wisconsin.
The description states simply:
E-116 BOETTCHER DEER FARM
HAYWARD, WISCONSIN
—From information available on the web, this farm has long since closed.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.
Northway Motel, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
This image shows the front of the Northway Motel in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and to the left, the associated Schrener’s Restaurant for the convenience of the motel guests.
The description states:
NORTHWAY MOTEL
Hwy. 41 between Hwys 23 & 151 on Grove Street
Fond du Lac’s newest and finest. One Mile to City. Excellent restaurant adjoining. 24 air conditioned rooms. Phones, free T.V.s, Sealy Posturpedic Mattresses, Hot Water Heat, All Tiled Tub and Shower Baths. Open year around.
Mr. & Mrs. Lee Shaw – Owners and Operators
Fond du Lac, Wis. Phone: Walnut 1-7975
—This establishment still exists on the current site, along with a restaurant with a new name.
This postcard was dated when printed as 1959.
Tejm Motel, Bettendorf, iowa
This is an artist’s rendition of the Tejm Motel in Bettendorf, Iowa, a typical mid-century structure with multi-occupancy buildings reminiscent of apartments.
The description states:
TEJM MOTEL
On U. S. Highway 6 — Bettendorf, Iowa
“We Aim to Satisfy”
Conveniently located in Quint-City Area — (Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa; and Moline, Rock Island and East Moline, Illinois). 26 modern units, especially designed for the comforts of home. Phone: TEJM MOTEL, Davenport Exchange.
–CAbins like these often had apartment style designs, including small kitchenettes and sometimes even laundry services. As motel owners learned that most travelers did not use most of these services for various reasons, they were eliminated for more popular additions such as television, air conditioning and swimming pools.
This image likely dates from the 1940s.
Holiday Inn North, Des Moines, Iowa
This is an artist’s rendition of an aerial view of the Holiday Inn of Des Moines, Iowa and the grounds inside and out.
The description states:
HOLIDAY INN
OF DES MOINES (NORTH), IOWA
3501 East 14th Street Zip 50316
1 Mile South of Interstate 80 and U. S. 6 on U. S. 69
Cocktail Lounge — 24-hour restaurant
Giant heated swimming pool
Color TV in every room
Complete hotel and convention service
–The small lettering on the sign in the lower left says “The Worlds Innkeeper”
The Holiday Inn chain of motels is one of the largest in the world, and a pioneer in technology and co-branding, including creating a reservation service for travelers to book another Holiday Inn when leaving the current one, and the ability to pay with a Gulf Oil credit card, as Holiday Inn did not otherwise have a credit payment system, and this was before BankAmericard (now VISA) and Mastercharge (now MasterCard).
The Holiday Inn has been demolished and replaced with a Casey’s Service Station. This postcard likely dates from the 1970s.
Voyager Inn, Burlington, Iowa
This image is a typical promotional postcard view of the Voyager Inn and a view inside one of the rooms in the inset.
The description states:
VOYAGER INN AHA
BURLINGTON, IOWA
Telephone 754-4681 — TWX: 319-390-1113
U.S. Hwys. 34 and 61
60 Deluxe Rooms with Air-conditioning — TV — Courtesy Coffee — Swimming Pool — Spacious Lawn
A BOSS MOTEL
–Some of the notations in the description are unclear. The AHA may refer to a hotel association of the time. TWX is the Teletypewriter Exchange Service which ran alongside the public telephone service and allowed telegraph like messages to be sent to businesses.
Of particular note from the image are the unusual bed designs. These are beds with mattress covers and bolster pillows intended to provide couch space in the daytime. At night, the bolsters were set aside, the covers removed, and the beds exposed for sleeping. Normal sleeping pillows were stored in closets.
This style of furniture was fashionable for a short time in the 1970s, and this image likely dates from that time.
Shady Lodge Motel, Oscaloosa, Iowa
This image is an artist’s rendition of the cabins making up the Shady Lodge Motel, with the main office in the left background.
The description states:
Shady Lodge Motel
102 So. 11th St., Highway 63
1/2 Mile South of 92
Telephone 3-7073
Oscaloosa, Iowa
Modern Cottages–Innterspring Mattresses–Steam Heated
“A Home Away From Home”–Hundreds of Shade Trees
Trailer Accommodations
Owned and Operated by Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Benke
–Such elaborate designs were still common in the early years of motel construction, particularly in remote or rural areas, but such buildings proved to be expensive to maintain and were supplanted with more standardized construction.
Google maps shows the site has been completely reconstructed for homes and small businesses. This image likely dates from the 1940s.
Colo Cabin Camp, Colo, Iowa
This image shows a typical rural motel design from the mid-20th century in Iowa. These cabins are no longer separate or semidetached, but are subdivisions of a single long building.
The description states:
COLO CABIN CAMP
Modern Cabins
Colo, Iowa
At the junction of U.S. Highways 65 and 30. A Standard Service Station with 24 hour service and a good place to eat, where friends meet.
— All that remains of the location noted for this establishment is a cemetery next to the highway.
The vehicle partially hidden behind the sign indicates this card likely dates from the 1950s.
McNeal Hi-Way Motels, Des Moines, Iowa
This image shows three different motels. all located in various places around Des Moines, Iowa.
The description states:
125 beautiful, modern rooms plus a handy coffee shop, cocktail lounge and 4 air-conditioned meeting rooms for 10 to 150 persons. Located in a modern shopping center with 32 stores and offices. For reservations or more information telephone 276-3411.
McNEAL HI-WAY HOTELS-MOTELS
57th and Urbandale
Des Moines, Iowa 50310
— The location now is an apartment complex. This image likely dates from the 1960s based on the automobiles visible in the parking lots.