Would You Have Stayed Here?
A tiny green cabin with a big story — restored piece by piece, with help from more than a dozen people who believed it was worth saving.
Before the Motel, There Was the Tourist Camp
Throughout the first half of the 20th century, tourist camps and courts were common overnight stops for newly budding motorists. Earlier hotels had catered to railroad travelers and clustered in big cities — so as road trips took off, small camps began popping up along the highways instead. Early cabins were single-room affairs, one couple at a time. As they caught on, owners added more units and modern touches — phones, gas, cafés, even swimming pools — and "tourist court" became the term of the moment. "Motel" — motor plus hotel — got popularized in the 1940s, and the two terms lived side by side for years before "tourist court" faded from use.
This Cabin's Story
Formerly located along the old William Penn Highway (Route 22), this cabin dates to somewhere between 1920 and 1940. The Museum acquired it in late August 2023 and has since taken it through extensive restoration — from a weathered shell to a fully furnished slice of roadside history.
With thanks to the friends who helped furnish it: Roy Bieber, Jim Butt, Guy Clemmer, Sam Fiorani, Kathleen Jones, Dan Olsen, Tobey Ross, Barbara Schaefer, Dick & Diane Schuster, Wayne Strogus, and Jim Swope.
It's more than a fitting acquisition. Paul and Erminie Hafer — the Museum's founders — stayed in a tourist cabin just like this one on their honeymoon.
Before, During, After
Before
During
After
Interior and exterior shots included, per the current live page's photo set.
Adopt This Piece – $1,000/Year
Includes signage recognition, a website listing, and a feature in Museum Musings.