From collection Eastern Illustrating & Publishing Company Collection
The Checkered House Tourist Camp, Richmond, VT. 518.
Scene of a roadside tourist accommodation in a rural area, with a large bridge in the background. A line of telephone poles punctuate the landscape from the foreground to the distance. With the increasing use of the family automobile in the 1930s, the paved road and tourist lodging and eateries became common amenities in between New England towns. Tourist cabins, the precursors of the motel, sprang up all along State roads in scenic areas. This image shows one such establishment, offering gasoline service and a snack bar in addition. Signs read: "Maple Syrup, Socony Gasoline and Motor Oil, Checkered House Overnight Cottages/ Camp Ground/ Humphrey's Ice Cream, Hot Dogs". The large steel truss bridge in the background suggests the location is near the Winooski River in the northwest part of Richmond.
