| Postcard circa 1950s |
Rockingham,
North Carolina -- 602
S. Hancock St. |
Discovered by researcher Robby Delius, the Rockingham Post-Dispatch in 1953 chronicled the exciting news that the citizenry of Richmond County were soon to enjoy their very own Howard Johnson's Restaurant! The first of the headlines read, "Deed Howard Johnson Filed." That first article published on April 16, 1953 announced that "plans have been drawn and bids asked for contractors for the proposed new Howard Johnson restaurant to be built half a mile south of Rockingham on Highway 1." The deed indicated that the site consisted of 1.34 acres and was purchased for a sum of $8,000. Principles in the project were Mitchall Wallace and Stafford and Associates (along with George K. Kaster who owned the adjacent Sandman Motel). Chartered in March of 1953, the parties created Anchor Enterprises to own and manage the franchised Howard Johnson's. The next news of the HoJo's in the Post-Dispatch announced in the afternoon edition on May 7, 1953 that "Restaurant Contract is let to Dickerson of Monroe. Another Unit in the Howard Johnson Chain. Be Ready by Sept. 1st?" Interestingly the May 7th piece reported that J. A. Cicco was the Restaurant's architect. Cicco was the chief architect at the Howard Johnson Company, and thus it is likely that Rockingham's plans were standard issue. Secondly the paper indicated that "a unique combination heating and air conditioning unit" was to be installed in the restaurant which "makes it possible to maintain a constant temperature no matter what the weather outside." It must have been some sort of innovative HVAC system that the Company was introducing? Finally in the last article unearthed by Mr. Delius and published on September 17, 1953, the nearly open eatery was described as "one of the handsomest and most complete restaurant in the South." Opening pushed back to September 28, 1953, the restaurant was to be managed by Tom Evans who had operated a Howard Johnson's in Charlotte. The restaurant was said to seat 83 and had been built at a cost of $65,000. Rockingham was a Howard Johnson's from 1953 until 1972. |
| Photograph December 9, 2006 |
| Postcard circa 1960s |
Lonnie McCaskill's Village Motel seen here was opposite the Howard
Johnson's and listed its proximity to the Restaurant as a convenience
to potential lodgers. In 1960, AAA described the motel as "an
attractive 47 unit ranch-style motel with pleasant rooms,"
but did not mention the nearby HoJo's. Still standing in 2006,
the Village Motel had become the Economy Motel. |
| Photograph November 2005: Courtesy of Robby Delius |
| Photograph December 9, 2006 |
| Photographs courtesy of Phil Edwards |
Above:
Originally part of the Restaurant's ownership was shared by the
principles of the adjacent Sandman Motel. Ron Goodman whose family
came to own the eatery and operated it as Goodman's Restaurant
recalled that the country singer, Marty Robbins was a patron at
both Goodman's and the Sandman when he was in town racing in the
Nascar circuit at the local speedway. |
