Tag: Michigan

This establishment is an excellent example of the earlier designs typical of rural motels in mid-century America. This combines both typical motel room accommodations with stand-alone cabins for more privacy and isolation.

The description states:
BLANK’S PLEASANT RIDGE MOTEL AND CABINS
3 Miles North of Petoskey on U. S. 31. Seven Modern Housekeeping Cabins, Fourteen Rustic Motel Units, Hot Water, Oil Heat, Gas Cooking. Near Good Eating Places and America’s Most Exclusive Summer Shopping Center. Hay Fever and Asthma Relief. B. D. Blank, R. R. 2, Petoskey, Mich, Ph. DI-7-7512
–Heating was provide by fuel oil, and cooking likely by propane gas tanks associated with each cabin and room. The reference to asthma and hay fever was related to places which promoted a more pollen and allergen free environment for sufferers of these diseases.
The establishment no longer exists, but there is a obituary of the wife of the proprietor, Lenora Blank. She and her husband operated the business during the warm months for 18 years. This photo likely dates from the 1950s.

The Manor Motel still stands in Newberry Michigan, where it was first opened 48 years ago in 1966.

The description states:
MANOR MOTEL
South Newberry Ave.
Newberry, Mich.
Gateway to Tahquamemon Falls
De luxe showers – Free T.V. – Carpeted large soundproof rooms. Family unites equipped with Beauty Rest springs and mattresses. Shuffleboard and playground. The best costs no more. Phone 561.
–Playgrounds with simple games such as shuffleboard were common for establishments like this one during the mid-century. Most such constructions have been demolished and replaced with pools where practical, as those are more commonly used.
The building has been remodeled on the outside, as can be seen at the link above. The date on the website indicates this card is from the 1960s.

This motel is located on the upper peninsula of Michigan, on the top of the northern finger of the Keweenaw peninsula. The motel is in the midst of the town of Copper Harbor and looks out over Lake Superior.

The description states:
KING COPPER MOTEL
Copper Harbor Michigan
North End of U.S. 41
Steam Heat – Bathtubs & Showers – Soundproof – Carrpeted – Seven foot casement Windows overlooking the Lake.
Willard and Shirley Kauppi, Proprietors
–As shown by the link above, the motel still exists in it’s original configuration and location. The object in the water near the shore is a floating platform, to allow swimmers to rest further from shore and dive into the deeper water from the platform. It is certainly long gone by now, possibly replaced by something more permanent and safer.
The card is dated 1957.

This motel is located in the upper lower peninsula of Michigan on Little Traverse Bay. The area is known for its characteristic fossil deposits called Petoskey stones, made of fossilized rugose coral.

The description states:
HAYNER’S MOTEL
JUNCTION U.S. 131 AND U.S. 31
1/2 Mile South from downtown Petoskey, Michigan
30 new, ultra-modern units, each with tile bath, we all-towall carpet, soundproofing, radio. TV available. Open year-around. Hot water heat.
–This motel was a bit more modest than the previous ones, indicated by the availability of TV but not located in each room. Also, while there was air conditioning, the heat was from radiators, rather than wall heaters which were the standard of the day.
The motel was built on the location of the Hayner family gas station, and was sold in 1988. The motel owner, Harold Hayner, died in 2008.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.

This artist’s rendition of the Georgian House Motel is clearly labelled Michigan’s Most Beautiful Motel, a bit of marketing exaggeration to be sure.

The description states:
THE GEORGIAN HOUSE
Michigan’s Most Beautiful Motel
Situated on the Lake (Straits of Mackinac)
Facing Mackinac Island
1131 North State St. St. Ignace, Michigan
46 Massive Units, Baths, Showers & Dressing Rooms. French Provincial Decor Throughout. Carpeting, T.V., Sun Deck, Luxurious Dining Room.
For reservations, call St. Ignace 666
–Some overseas travel sites still list this motel as active, but street view of the location shows no buildings at that location now. The information available says the motel was built in 1961, so the card dates from the 1960s.

This motel is not one of the rural establishments built near parks and scenic areas. The Motel De Ville was located just outside the city of Detroit, in the suburb of Royal Oak.

The description states:
THE NEW MOTEL DE VILLE
1524 S. Woodward at 10 Mile Rd., (U.S. 10), Royal Oak, Mich. Phone LIncoln 59433 – 1 Block from Detroit Zoo. Restaurant Next Door. Luxurious Large Rooms, Tile Tub & Shower, Television and Radio, Family Accommodations, Air Conditioning, Modest Rates, Back from the Highway for Quietness.
–The motel no longer exists on this site. In the background of the inset photo is a partially blocked sign for the Dipsy Doodle restaurant chain. These were modest diners located around the eastern half of the United States in the mid-century. All but a few are closed as is this one.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.

This begins a two week tour of American motels from the mid-20th century in upper Michigan. The first is the Motel Bay de Noc, built in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The description states:
MOTEL BAY DE NOC
On Big Bay De Noc & U. S. #2, 106 mi. W. of Straits of Mackinac at Garden Corners
17 Mi. W. of Manistique, Mich.
Cooks, Michigan
Safe, Private Beach, Good Fishing, Completely Modern, Wall-to-Wall Carpeting
Frank E. Richards, Prop.
–The design is more typical of the second generation of motels, with more standard construction rather than the individual cottages of the 1940s and earlier. This differs in the convenient but awkward location of parking, where the car is immediately in front of the motel room door. Not only does this potentially make for awkward entry and exit from the car and room, but also unloading and moving bags in and out.
In addition, cars of this era were fairly noisy when started, and had to be run for a few minutes to be ready to drive. The car placement directly adjacent to the room would mean all that noise and potential smell would be inescapable to the room’s occupants, and possibly the neighbor’s room occupants as well.
The rooms were also unusual in that there was a front and back door, essentially unknown now, which allowed the visitor to exit onto the back park area and proceed directly to the lake and picnic areas adjacent. Equipment there is basic and typical of the time.
The cars shown indicate the card dates from the 1950s.

This image is of petrified coral known as Favosites, or honeycomb coral. The form of coral shown here is long extinct.

The description states:
“Petrified Honeycomb”
A colonial coral known as FAVOSITES. Both cross sectional and longitudinal cuts make attractive jewelry. Found throughout Michigan.
–The bottom right sample shows the most common view of the coral type, while the others show how the stacks of coral appear from the sides. The card is dated 1962.

This final image of the mine shows the face of the blocked tunnel where a water reservoir was located. The open pipes and valves present in the wall face indicate the water is no longer stored here.

The description states:
ARCADIAN COPPER MINE TOURS — End of tour at Water Reservoir. Original Arcadian Mine established 1864 in Ripley, Michigan, on M26 one mile from Hancock, Michigan. Believe it or not it is the only underground Copper Mine in the world open to the public.
–The term M26 refers to the Michigan state highway that was constructed near the mine. The mine long predates the highway. The card is dated 1955.