Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
North American Hotel
General material designation
- Graphic material
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
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Item
Repository
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
c. 1960s (Creation)
- Creator
- Canadian Postcard Company
- Place
- Canada
Physical description area
Physical description
2023.000.18: Postcard
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
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Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
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Archival description area
Name of creator
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Custodial history
Scope and content
Front: Colored photograph of the North American Motel. The picture demonstrates a street view of the motel with cars being parked in front of it. At the right hand side there is sign mentioning the name of the motel, at the back of the motel there is a tall far fetched green tree. The lawn near the building looks clean with a vacancy sign kept near the entrance.
Back: The back of the postcard is beige and the postcard seems to have never been used. The postcard is divided into almost two parts by a written text “Canadian Post Card Co. Ltd., Toronto 3”. On the left hand side Motel’s information (address and contact details) is printed with blue ink. On the right hand side “Post Card” is printed along with a box that mentions “Place stamp here”. At the bottom left corner “40687-B” is printed which appears to be some kind of a serial no. In the middle there is a little circle that writes “Printed in Canada” lastly at the bottom right corner “250” is written with a pencil.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script note
Mark / Inscription text: NORTH AMERICAN MOTEL / 2147 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Toronto 14, Ont. / On the shores of Lake Ontario
Mark / Inscription type: Title, subtitle
Mark / Inscription description:
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, near upper left corner
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: AAA / CAA
Mark / Inscription type: Sponsor branding
Mark / Inscription description: Two ovals circling both texts
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, on either side of the title
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: At Western approach to or from downtown Toronto / via Queen Elizabeth Hwy. at Gardiner Expressway / take Lakeshore Rd. exists to Scenic Hwy. #2 and / Lakeshore Blvd. / Modern Air Conditioned Units, 4 piece Bath, Phone, / T.V. in all units – Open year ‘round - 10 minutes / to downtown. / For reservations phone (Zone 416) 255-1127
Mark / Inscription type: Subject caption
Mark / Inscription description:
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, upper left quadrant
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: 40687-B
Mark / Inscription type: Serial number
Mark / Inscription description:
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, bottom left corner
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: Canadian Post Card Co. Ltd., Toronto 3
Mark / Inscription type: Maker’s mark
Mark / Inscription description:
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, printed vertically down the centre in the middle of the page
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: Post Card
Mark / Inscription type: Branding
Mark / Inscription description:
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, on right side about one-third down from the top
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: PRINTED / IN / CANADA
Mark / Inscription type: Maker’s mark
Mark / Inscription description: An oval surrounds the text
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, near bottom edge in the centre
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: PLACE / STAMP / HERE
Mark / Inscription type: Instructions/postage box
Mark / Inscription description: A rectangle made of 6 dots along the top and bottom and 9 dots along the left and right surround the text, the dots range in size
Mark / Inscription technique: Printed, blue ink
Mark / Inscription position: On back, upper right corner
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Mark / Inscription text: 250
Mark / Inscription type: Possible: price
Mark / Inscription description:
Mark / Inscription technique: Written, pencil
Mark / Inscription position: On back, bottom right corner
Mark / Inscription language: English
Mark / Inscription translation: N/A
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
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Finding aids
Associated materials
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Accompanying material
Copyright / Reproduction holder: Likely Public Domain
Display / Exhibit / Event Record
Used in Scene & Unseen Third Floor Gallery March 2022 - June 2022
ShapeObject History
The Canadian Post Card Co. was founded in early 1910 by Donald Alexander Lynn of Toronto. Prior to founding Canadian Post Card Co., Donald A. Lynn was the manager of the Underwood & Underwood office in Toronto from 1897 to 1910. The company was active from at least 1911 through 1969.
The North American Motel neighboured the Hillcrest Motel. The Hillcrest Motel opened in 1949 by Mr. Gadzala (no first name given). The hotel was passed down to the owner’s son Edward Gadzala and was then partly run with Dave Gadzala (the grandson of the first owner). It was built on the waterfront to attract people. By 2008, the Gadzalas owned the North American Motel as well, but it is uncertain if they were the original owners or if they later purchased it sometime before 2008. Based on photographs taken of the North American Motel around 2008, a sign in the window reads the hotel closed after 36 years. This points to the hotel possibly opening around 1972. In 2007/2008, the Gadzalas sold both motels to a developer and were eventually torn down in the spring of 2008.
In the 1940s-1960s, Etobicoke saw a rise in motels due to motor vehicles becoming more accessible and widely used. Motor hotels (motels) became prominent tourist destinations. Etobicoke Lakeshore’s prime motel era is seen in many postcards from the time period (primarily shots from Mimico and New Toronto). Replacing the traditional cottage industry in Long Branch, local sites hosted waterfront beaches, attractions, and quaint motels with easy and affordable access for local tourists following Lakeshore Road as the main link between East (Toronto), and the West (Buffalo and Niagara Falls) along the shoreline. Construction of the 401 and QEW diverted traffic away from the Lakeshore, causing a steep decline in Mimico’s motel industry in the 1980s, with the last structure demolished in 2012. Many of these sites were replaced by condos as tourism moved away from the area.
The date of this postcard is unknown. There is very little information about the publisher or the hotel itself. The best assumption is that it is likely from the 1960s or 1970s. This date is based off similar postcards found that are in the same style as this postcard and the subject matter is in an area close to the location of the North American Motel. These other postcards both have been used and postdated with dates from the 1960s. However, based on the photograph of the hotel after closure in 2008, it is likely the hotel opened around 1972, but it may have opened earlier if it switched owners.