Universal York

I came across a brochure and York City street map put out by the York Chamber of Commerce featuring photos and information on the city’s four leading hotels. The map is dated 1945, but judging by some of the cars, the hotel information may be a bit more recent.

Only the Hotel Yorktowne survives, and its future has been rather iffy lately. The Hotel Penn building is gone, for years an empty lot, but now home of the York County Judicial Center.

Here are the amenities and rates for each hotel:

Hotel Yorktowne, Market & Duke Streets.
258 rooms—all with bath and radio
Single $3.25 to $7.00; Double $6.00 to $10.00
Air-Conditioned
Dining Room—Coffee Shop—Bar—Lounge—Lobby
Ball Room—Club Room—Garage Attached
45 Year ‘Round, Modern Air-Conditioned Rooms.

Colonial Hotel, On Continental Square
200 Modern Rooms
Ideal for a Day, a Month, or a Year
Special Rates for Extended Stays
Single from $2.00; Double from $3.00
Dining Room—Crossroads Grill—Garage Connection

Hotel Penn, George and Philadelphia Streets (Routes 30, 111 and 74)
120 rooms—65 connecting with bath
Single $2.25 to $4.00; Double $3.25 to $7.00
Radio in Every Room
Three fine dining rooms and Cocktail Lounge
Recommended by Duncan Hines, Gourmet and AAA
All Public Rooms and Lobby Air-Conditioned.

Hotel Brooks, 40 South George Street
100 outside rooms
Single from $2.00; Double $3.00 to $5.00
80 Rooms Connecting Tub and Shower Baths
George W. Brown, Owner-Operator

Air conditioning wasn’t taken for granted in those days. I also wonder about the “connecting” baths—does that mean that a couple of rooms shared one bathroom? If you occupied one of the rooms that didn’t connect with a bath, I guess you had to trudge down the hall in your bathrobe. Outside rooms must mean you had a window. Expectations have changed, haven’t they?