The Old South

The last couple of days, we've focused on new buildings. Today, we take you to the remains of an old motel, near the Wings of Healing Tabernacle, on the east side of Highway 29 between Cone Boulevard and Hicone Road. All that remains of this once thriving roadside motel is the brick exterior and stoops leading to hollow rooms filled with shrubs, trees, and weeds. 

Motor hotels, shortened to motels, became increasingly popular in the United States after World War II. As the highway system grew and long distance journeys were more commonplace, motels sprang up everywhere. They peaked in popularity in the 1960's, and in the following decades, the interstate system took motorists around cities and towns.* It is easy to see why we no longer find motels useful and opt for the brimming-with-amenities hotels. It is harder, however, to figure out which current cultural icons will be abandoned later in this century. We'll ponder that question as we traipse around Greensboro this weekend, looking for places (new and old) to feature for you. Happy weekend, dear readers.

By the way, do you know why North Carolina is considered part of the Old South, moreso than the Deep South? Do you know why the term has fallen out of favor? If not, the answer is a click away.

 P.S. If you live in an "S" neighborhood, we'll probably be driving by for our ABC Wednesday photo!

*reference and additional information here.

Comments

[Janis of So Cal]

Lovely abandon. This is the sort of place tales of terror begin. Doors to other places and times. Memories still tightly gripping those last bricks while nature encroaches and engulfs their very being,as it they never were.

[Greensboro Daily Photo]

Wow! Sounds like a great beginning to a novel.

Janis of NC

[Billy Jones]

I helped replace the roof on that motel just months before it caught fire and burnt off. Brand new roof, gone. There's been several bars in the building next door. Some were great places, some not so great. If you should ever need sandblasting done the young man in the old building just to the south of there runs a top notch business.

[Greensboro Daily Photo]

Thanks, Billy. We'll be sure to tell him that Billy Jones sent us! What year did the motel catch on fire?