The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1959-07-09

connexions. Locally, the groups
having the largest number of
patrons would be from the state
department, highway, extension
and welfare workers, for eX-
ample, from the Cleveland
Graphite Bronze Company and
Texas Eastern Transmission
Corp.
The tourists that do stop, how
ever, and there is an appreciable
number of them during the
summer months, make use of the
facilities of the roadside park and
the Parkside Drive-In. Mr.. Potts
says he has no problem with
people trying to steal things, the
main reason being the fact that
is not big tourist area. Another
reason, he feels, is the personal
contact that he and Mrs. Potts
have with their guests. They try
to be helpful and friendly and
make their guests feel at home
and people are less likely to take
things from a place where they
have been made welcome.
Economically, the motel adds
a great deal to the area. For an
area and town the size of Cald-
well the over. 40 capacity, with
each unit full, is exceptionally
high. On an average summer
night they will usually average
about Is persons, the number
depending upon whether people
are travelling in groups or
singly. Three roll-a-way beds are
also available to fill in rooms.
In 1856 they had "a per cent
occupancy which is their best
so far. Such figures will vary
according to the economic con-
ditions. For example last winter
was poorer than most, as was
business everywhere, but on the
other hand, the season opened
up one month earlier this spring.
A ten-unit motel with 80 per
cent occupancy would be equival-
ant, from an economic stand
point, to local factory employ
ing 100 persons, saying persons
arrived late in the afternoon and
spent money for food, gasoline
and other recreation. Economic
ally, this is invaluable to the
area.
When the H. c. Price Co. was
in the area last year fifteen per-
sons stayed at the motel during
the pipelaying period, another
instance where local business has
involved patrons. One day one
of the men expressed longing
for soup beans and within few
days the Potts had planned a
party with four pounds of soup
beans, % pounds of barbecued
spareribs and all the trimmings
for the group staying with them.
Later, each group wrote back to
them and mentioned the party.
They find that they do become
very much involved with their
guests and often have had to
play doctor, nurse, cook, handy
man, baby sitter, cab service and
have many other duties. It's not
unusual to find baby's formula
warming on the Potts kitchen
range, even though their daugh-
ter, Connie, is far beyond the
bottle stage and takes an avid
interest in the guests.
The personal angle guests
receive, though, seems to pay off
for many persons come back
year after year and some even
ask for the same room. Often
times they even leave notes in
the room as a thank you for the
hospitality they received. On
occasion they have sent Connie
gifts, as did one family whose
male member had a gall bladder
attack and received some help
from the Potts for some length
of time People are often sick
and need assistance, as did the
woman whose leg was broken
in an accident and various other
people whose cars broke down in
the middle of the night and
other such mishaps.
People seem prone to leaving
things in motels and the Park
Side in no exception. They leave
everything from pajamas to
wallets. The prime example OF
this is the time the gentleman,
an electrical engineer, was on his
way to give a speech at the
national electrical convention in
Ashvile, N. c.. He walked eff
without his briefcase which con-
tanned his speech and $575!
Fortunately however, MIR. Potts
was able to get the forgotten
object on plane in time for the
owner to pick it up a few hours
before the speech was to be
given.
Mr.. Potts laughingly says a
motel is no place to retire. They
are on call "a hours a day usually |
and its not all loafer's paradise.
Two maids, Wanona and Wanda
Anderson, take care of the units
and part of the laundry is sent
ont while the rest of it is done |