| <back |
| Postcard
postmarked 11-18-1967: Tim & Tom Bernert |
|
| |
|
Above:
Back in the glory days businessmen were tended to in Dayton's
ultra-modern signature A-frame Gate Lodge
Post
WWII Dayton became a vibrant hub of American industrial economic
opportunity, and by the late 1950s begged for modern reliably
hospitality offerings like Howard Johnson's. The location
chosen for Dayton's HoJo's complex was ideally sited along
I-75 and adjacent to an alignment of the old Dixie Highway.
Moreover a host of roadside services sprang up not just at
the Interstate's interchanges but also all along the route
of the Dixie which served to complement the wondrously modern
Dayton HoJo's!
Alas
with the passage of time, the vicinity of the Dayton property
became crime-ridden and a liability to viability. Like dominos
most of the respectable businesses pulled out of the area
or failed leaving the former Howard Johnson's and a nearby
HI to fend for themselves in a murky sea of anarchy poorly
policed by the local authorities.
|
|
Above:
Its modernity diminished, at least the A-frame's form and
exposed woodwork remained. Note the Patel-esque hideous un-decorative
light treatment--every other fixture above the front desk
featured exposed compact fluorescent bulbs. |
|
|
| |
| Postcard
ca. 1970s: Kummerlowe Archive |
|
| |
| |
| Photos
April 2004: Kummerlowe Archive |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
Plans
Gone Awry As They Sometimes do: My visit in 2004 to the
former Dayton Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge had included overnighting
there, but it wasn't meant to be! After checking in and paying
for a room I entered the guest building perpendicular to the amazingly
intact squat Gate Lodge, and enthusiastically took two steps at
a time making my way through the vintage-ness and entered my room.
No sooner had I lined up the couple of interior photos seen here
that I had a prospective visitor pounding on my door. He was "Pimp
Daddy," and no doubt a long term resident of the former HoJo's.
Since I did not answer the rapping, he retired to his room to
phone me. My bad--I answered the ringing phone thinking it was
Mr. Patel--Doh it wasn't. Pimp Daddy advised me in short order
that he took care of all of his homies (and I could be his?),
and that he would fix me up with whatever I needed or ever wanted--for
a price--his assistant Lucrecia would handle the details.
I
required a hasty and immediate departure. Should I leap from the
balcony or simply walk through the door? Needless to say I didn't
leap, but exited with all of the decorum with which I could muster
through the guest room's door, was unmolested to my car and made
a speedy vehicular retreat (upon my burning rubber departure I
spied an amused Lucrecia in her lingerie on her balcony observing
my flight).
Now listen:
It's okay, I understand
This ain't no never-never land
I hope that when this fish is gone
I'll see you when your clothes are on
Take your car, yes we will, we'll take your car and drive it
Take it to a motel room, and take 'em off in private
A part of me has just been wrecked
The pages from my mind are stripped
Oh no, I can't deny it
Oh yeah, I guess I got to buy it
J Geils Band
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| Postcard
postmarked 11-18-1967: Tim & Tom Bernert |
| |
Above:
Shown at the culmination of Howard Johnson's colorful perfection
of hospitality, lucky patrons enjoyed Dayton's outdoor pool.
Below
& Higher: Perfection lost in a Silent Spring, Dayton's
swimming pool was seen never to have been reopened. |
|
| |
| Photos
April 2004: Kummerlowe Archive |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
Below
& Lower: Officials giddy over having secured Federal
"stimulus" funds to demolish Dayton didn't even get
the photo-op correct for their propagandizing. Note that the WHIO
television reporter Jim Otte got it right, for he recognized that
the best spot was to be in front of the iconic Gate Lodge--perhaps
the politicians and bureaucrats feared being recognized in front
of the strip club! |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| <back |
|
 |
