| 1950s - Howard Johnson's Restaurant thanks to Bill Dennis & researcher R. Delius 10-30-07 |
| Postcard circa 1950s 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 restaurants 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
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.
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.
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