...one of the most modern establishments of its kind in the East, combining the best features of a hotel, motel and resort... (Cherry Hill Inn advertisement circa 1960s) 

{HISTORY}

When it opened in 1954, the 103-room Cherry Hill Inn was a major marvel in the hospitality industry. Situated on 50 acres in southern New Jersey, the hotel cost over $2 million dollars to build with sole focus placed on luxury, comfort and the finest hospitality.

Designed by noted California architect Arthur Froelich,  the Inn's exterior was thoroughly midcentury modern in style but the interior, decorated with the help of Dorothy Draper, was modeled after the equestion lifestyle of elegant English country estates mixed with local Pennsylvania Dutch history. Thanks to the Inn's close proximity to the racetrack, horses, jockeys and stable fixtures featured predominantly in the decor. In the landscape, over 200 varieties of flowering cherry trees dotted the acres around the inn and in the dining room, cherries dotted the tables in the form of patterned dinnerware.

Considered a great boon to the area, everyone was excited about the Inn with its modern touches and first-of-its-kind amenities. Each guest room boasted air conditioning and 21" inch televisions.  A putting green offered relaxing fun off the outdoor dining room. The pool was heated. The smoking tables in the lobby were arranged in clusters meant for conversation. The bar and cocktail room offered every drink imaginable and the 15-foot stone fireplace lent a cozy atmosphere to the fall and winter seasons.

Even the commercial kitchen caught attention. Decked out completely in stainless steel with copper utensils and bays of cold storage made to accommodate a variety of foods, there was nothing that could stop the kitchen staff from preparing daily meals for the 250-seat dining room or catering a special event at a guest's whim.

Somewhere in that hustle and bustle of glamorous kitchen decor and meal prep madness, were these two soup bowls. Made by Syracuse China they feature a beautiful cherry branch pattern called Cherry Hills. A natural fit for the Cherry Hill Inn, they were made September 1954, just one month before the Inn opened.  Put into service alongside coordinating red-rimmed dishware, this mismatched yet complimentary combination made for an interesting and eye-catching tablescape. 

It's so fun when you can pair vintage restaurant ware with an actual vintage restaurant. Although the Cherry Hill Inn closed in 1992, these two bowls are wonderful representatives of a 20th-century hospitality venue that dazzled and delighted travelers for four decades. 

Cherry Hill logo and image courtesy of The Courier-Post

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Matching set of two bowls

- Stamped on bottom with maker's mark and date code

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. The are no chips, cracks or stains on either bowl , except for one small chip (1/4” inch in size) on the backside of one bowl near the backstamp.  There is a slight smudge in the transferware of one bowl which occurred during the manufacturing process. This smudge is under the glaze and does not affect the use of the bowl in any way. Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

Each bowl measures 9" inches in diameter and weighs 1.7lbs. 

{FOR THE LOVE OF RESTAURANTS}

Find more fascinating stories of long-ago hospitality featuring vintage restaurant ware in the shop here.