The Motorist's Playground

This post examines early 1920s roadhouse culture in the Croton area. Advertisements from the June 12, 1921 New-York Tribune featured three Croton "road houses" in a promotion marketing "Westchester County, the Motorist's Playground, 900 Miles of Good Roads."

A 1917 Variety article discussed E.H. Sommers' roadhouse ventures, including his operation of Tumble Inn near Peekskill and Nikko Inn at Harmon. These establishments served "those owning fast cars" in an era when quality roads were scarce.

Sommers proposed "The Blue Goose," a cooperative roadhouse on the Boston Post Road near New Rochelle, offering shareholders membership benefits including discounts, reserved seating, and amenities—essentially functioning as a country club.