Memories - Howard Johnson's & Friends

"Set to open in 1950, this was the first Howard Johnson's Restaurant in the Columbus area. Of the three original stand alone circa 1950 Restaurants this was the only one still standing by 2003.*"  source

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This image brought back a nice memory. The father of my friend and classmate Lynn, took Lynn and me to this Howard Johnson's on High Street. I remember having a delicious orange freeze drink made with orange sherbet. That would have been a big trip - from London to North High Street in Columbus. I wonder if there was another reason we were in Columbus or if the purpose of the outing was to go to Howard Johnson's? 

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The distinctive orange roof has been gone a long time. Many of you have driven by this building without knowing it used to be a Howard Johnson's. It's located on High Street right across from Graceland Shopping Center. There used to a a Melting Pot restaurant in the building. When we moved out west, a bank had moved in. Click here for pictures

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MORE MEMORIES OF MY FRIEND & HER FAMILY

Lynn's mother was our Camp Fire Girl leader. I remember meetings at their house on Garfield Avenue. Once we made "sit upons" from newspapers and vinyl. Sit upons have their own board on Pinterest! She died in 2010 at age 96. Her obituary says she was in the Army Air Corps in World War II. I wonder if she regaled us with war stories at our Camp Fire Girl meetings?

One summer evening, Lynn's father took a car full of girls to the drive-in* on Route 40 between London and Springfield. I think it was the summer of 1959; I was 13. It's a wonderful childhood memory. 

*I'm pretty sure it was the Melody Drive-In; it's still open in the summer.  Here it says the Showboat Drive-In was across the road from the Melody.

Julia, Nancy & Lynn

ca 1958

cooking dinner