Vintage postcard featuring the Palace Motor Lodge in Gilroy, California, located at 605 Monterey Avenue on U.S. Highway 101.
The card shows the north end of the motor lodge complex along the highway, with an inset view of another portion of the property. The front is captioned:
“PALACE MOTOR LODGE – GILROY, CALIFORNIA”
“North End in Town on U.S. 101”
The reverse advertises:
PALACE MOTOR LODGE
605 Monterey Ave. (U.S. 101)
Gilroy, California
The motel offered single and double rooms, modern facilities, some rooms with kitchenettes, heating, and attached garages. The telephone number is given simply as Phone 491, an interesting reminder of the era of short local telephone numbers.
Published as a “Portraitone” by Associate Service of Pasadena, California, card number 641161.
An excellent piece of early California roadside and motel history from the period when U.S. 101 passed directly through Gilroy along Monterey Road/Highway, before modern freeway travel bypassed much of the traditional roadside business district.
Location: Gilroy, California
Address: 605 Monterey Avenue / U.S. 101
Business: Palace Motor Lodge
Publisher: Associate Service, Pasadena, California
Series: Portraitone
Card Number: 641161
Approximate Date: c. 1940s–early 1950s
Postally Used: No
Good vintage condition with moderate age-related wear. Card is unused and unposted. Noticeable toning, particularly around the edges and reverse. Corner and edge wear with some rounding and small creases. Light surface wear and scratching visible on the front. Pencil notation appears along the lower portion of the reverse. No stamp or postal cancellation. Please examine both photographs for exact condition.
City: Gilroy
State: California
Country: United States
Era: Linen / Mid-Century
Approximate Date: 1940s–1950s
Subject: Palace Motor Lodge
Theme: Motels, Hotels, Roadside America, U.S. Highway 101, Travel
Publisher: Associate Service, Pasadena, California
Series: Portraitone
Card Number: 641161
Postage Condition: Unposted
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
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