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| Postcard
postmarked December 5, 1963: Kummerlowe Archive |
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St.
Louis-South, MO -- 6929 S. Lindbergh
Blvd.
Mehlville |
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St.
Louis-South was among the earliest of standardized Motor Lodge
complexes! It opened in 1957 with only 40 guest rooms, and was
designed along the lines of plans devised by Rufus Nims and Carl
Koch. With its excellent location the facility became integrated
into the local community serving numerous capacities throughout
the years. For example, in addition to serving the needs of travelers,
the site also was a local destination and for may years was a
weekly meeting place for a local Lions Club.
The
sprawling mostly single level Motor Lodge was expanded to offer
68 guest rooms during the 1960s and topped out at 85 by the end
of its life span in 1988. Incredibly long-lived, the Motor Lodge
lasted 31 years and even featured an upscale Executive Section
at the end of its days.
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| Postcard
postmarked July 9, 1958: Kummerlowe Archive |
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Back
in those heady expansion years of the 1960s C. A. Krater was the
owner/operator of St. Louis-South. Following the influence of
Rufus Nims, Company architects built upon his ideals in order
to better integrate Motor Lodges with Restaurants. Key among Company
directives was to have operators use gleaming orange porcelain
enamel roof tiles on Gate lodges. Mr. Krater obliged and modified
his to include not just the orange tiles, but also referenced
Howard Johnson's popular and modern A-frame Gate Lodge design! |
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| Postcard
ca. 1960s: Kummerlowe Archive |
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With
Howard Johnson's glory days over by the middle 1980s breakup and
subsequent liquidation of the Company at the hands of several
greedy parties, the vintage complex lasted considerably longer
than most. Sprawling, it's property became far more valuable than
its operation as a HoJo's or any motel and restaurant. Thus the
site was sold, demolished, and subsequently came to be occupied
by several commercial establishments--by the 2000s only the recycled
towering Trapezoid highway sign remained. |
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| lobby
card ca. 1979: Dan Donahue |
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| Photo August
2000: Kummerlowe Archive |
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