McRorie’s Tourist Guide Good Places to Stop

“Approved Tourist Homes – Florida to Canada – Rates $1 to $1.50”

This interesting Depression-era brochure was published in 1935 by T.H. McRorie, proprietor of a large ‘tourist home’ in Jacksonville, Florida (advertised on the back panel). Before the advent of motels in the 1950s, tourist cabins (often operated by individuals or families) provided inexpensive lodging options for the throngs of motorists hitting the American roads. Reliability and safety were sometimes suspect, so recommended locations were looked upon favorably, especially those made by a member of the trade.

McRorie suggests dozens of ‘Good Places to Stop’ along the eastern United States, between Florida and Canada. They are generally modest affairs – clusters of cottages, small hotels, and even individual homes. Specific amenities like private baths, locked garages, and dining rooms are advertised. Many of the named proprietors are women. A fascinating look at a bygone era of automobile tourism.