Postcard ca 1960s: Dan Donahue
 
Nashua, New Hampshire -- 170 Main Dunstable Road
 

Built, owned and operated by Bruce Spaulding who's father, Irving Spaulding, developed the original Nashua Howard Johnson's Restaurant on the Daniel Webster Highway, the Nashua Motor Lodge and Restaurant complex was along one of The Granite State's primary routes, and was sited so that motorists traveling northbound had an excellent view of the inviting property in plenty of time to make its exit. Opened in 1967, the site featured a classically configured Motor Lodge and an extra-large prototype Restaurant dubbed "Concept '65."
 
Layout ca. 1960s: Dan Donahue
 
 
Photos ca 1997: Nate Coggeshall-Beyea
 
 
 
 
 
The following commentary is provided by Nate Coggeshall-Beyea who has extensively studied and documented the history and development of Howard Johnson's in New Hampshire:
Nashua was situated at 170 Main Dunstable Road, just off from Exit 5E of the Everett Turnpike (new Route 3). As a four-lane, divided expressway, the Everett Turnpike had quickly replaced the Daniel Webster Highway (old Route 3) as the main passageway north from Massachusetts, through Nashua, and on into Manchester. There, it made vital connections with both Interstate 293 and Interstate 93, offering motorists with superhighway travel straight through the heart of New Hampshire while bridging together the state’s three largest cities (Nashua, Manchester, and Concord). These connections afforded tourists and commuters the opportunity to move back and forth between southern and northern New Hampshire in record speed, thereby reducing their travel times considerably, enhancing their experiences on the road, and improving the overall quality of their trips through the state. It is this inter-network of superhighways, the Everett Turnpike, I-293, and I-93 that has served as the central backbone for automobile travel in New Hampshire from the 1960s to present day. As a critical link in this highway system, the Everett Turnpike was the perfect setting for a modern, large-scale HJ.

With the development of the new Nashua property, all three of New Hampshire’s largest cities now supported two HJ locations, consisting of one roadside store and one interstate/turnpike store.
 
 
Reportedly Nashua's Gate Lodge was heavily damaged by a large vehicle in the late 1990s. Rather than repair it, the building was demolished and replaced by a new lobby/office. Thus for the last few years of the site's existance there was no Orange Roofed Gate Lodge.
 
 
 
 
 
Photos 1999 : Lou Ferendo
 
Right & Below: Installed in 1986, Nashua's "Rounded Edge" highway sign replaced its large Trapezoid sign facing the Everett Turnpike. Interestingly both outdated signs remained even as Cendant introduced a new one in 1996.
Left & Lower: Nashua's original Trapezoid street sign remained in use at the site until the entire complex was demolished in 2001.
 
 
 
Photos 2000 : Dan Donahue
 
 
 
 
Photos 3-24-01 : Kummerlowe
 
 
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