Hagerstown Motel Maryland US Route 11 Vintage Motel Postcard
$ 5.28
Description
Hagerstown Motel Maryland US Route 11 Vintage Motel Postcard. It also features a prominent “Pray for Peace” slogan cancellation—an evocative reminder of the early Cold War era. Location: Hagerstown, Maryland. Modern guest units with Simmons furniture. Offered here is a vintage printed postcard featuring The Hagerstown Motel , located one mile north of Hagerstown on U.S. Route 11 , a key travel corridor through western Maryland during the height of automobile tourism. The front shows two color views of the property: A long, single-story brick motel building with private entrances, striped awnings, and patio chairs The main motel office and on-site restaurant , with period automobiles parked out front—excellent mid-century detail that firmly dates the scene to the early 1950s The clean modern design, ample parking, and landscaped grounds reflect the postwar emphasis on comfort, convenience, and efficiency for motorists. The reverse side contains extensive advertising copy highlighting the motel’s amenities, including: Location on U.S. Route 11 Modern guest units with Simmons furniture Private ceramic tile baths Wall-to-wall carpeting Connecting rooms Air conditioning and television Restaurant serving full-course dinners, open early morning Owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Howard V. Locke Jr. The postcard is postally used , bearing a three-cent Statue of Liberty stamp and a July 1951 Hagerstown postmark . It also features a prominent “Pray for Peace” slogan cancellation—an evocative reminder of the early Cold War era. The handwritten message adds personal travel correspondence, enhancing the card’s social and postal history value. Historical Context Following World War II, roadside motels rapidly replaced earlier tourist courts as Americans embraced automobile travel. Properties like the Hagerstown Motel catered to families, business travelers, and vacationers with modern comforts once considered luxuries. U.S. Route 11 was an important north–south route through the Shenandoah Valley and western Maryland, making Hagerstown a natural stopover point. During the early 1950s, patriotic and peace-themed postal slogans became common, reflecting national sentiment during the Korean War and Cold War period—making this card particularly interesting beyond its motel imagery. Postcard Details Type: Printed postcard (not a real photo postcard) Era: Early 1950s Location: Hagerstown, Maryland Route: U.S. Route 11 Publisher: H. E. Massie, Stephens City Card Number: 92815 Back: Divided back, postally used with slogan cancel Condition: Moderate age toning, light edge and corner wear, writing on back; image remains bright and detailed. Please review scans carefully for full condition details. A terrific addition for collectors of vintage motels , Route 11 and roadside Americana , Maryland postcards , postal slogan cancels , or mid-century travel history . Carefully packed and shipped with collector care.
