The Vintage Inn

Last week I started a new series called ‘Vintage Travel To Do List‘ and this week I’m introducing another series ‘A Peak into my vintage collection’. This series will showcase the various items I have in my home that I have collected over the years. Clothes, household items, pictures etc. I have lots of vintage goodies that I would love to share with all of you.

Today’s item was purchased from my friend Shermy, It’s- A 1949 Pearlescent Pastel Green Stocking Dryer in its original box & with the original hardware. This item will one day end up in my dream washroom but in the mean time its on display in my 1920s vintage bookcase.

1949 Vintage Stocking Dryer - A 1949 Pearlescent Pastel Green Stocking Dryer

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Vintage Stocking Dryer-The History

The dryer was created exclusively by the Donaco Plastics Company a USA Company. 1 minute installation, the gift with a purpose, for home and travelling and in 5 beautiful pearlescent pastel colors. And the whole dryer was only $2.95, Fantastic!

1949 Vintage Stocking Dryer how to use instructions.

End the Clutter. Vintage Hosiery Dryer Package Design.

50s Midcentury Vintage SafTdri Seashell Hosiery Drying Wall Mount Decor — Source: Etsy

Here is a pretty Yellow hosiery dryer. What colours would have to be in your washroom to have this bright of a yellow though?

Vintage SafTDri Seashell Hosiery Dryer 1950s — Source: Pinterest

A Donaco Box. I have not been able to find any information about this company, so if someone does know something about them, please share.

Donaco Plastics Company Vintage box — Source: eBay

They seemed to have also created a Malibu Sea-Shell Towel Holder (this advertisement was inside the box). Actually it’s called a Towl Holder. Is that a spelling mistake?

1949 Vintage towel holder vintage advertising

Here are some examples of ones you can pickup for yourself (updated March 2023). You don’t even have to use them as dryers, you can have them to hold, hair elastics, bobby pins or just as a cool piece in your washroom. Up to you!

1950s Saftdri Donaco Sea Shell stocking dryer (no longer available).

Source: Etsy

Ohhh a fun clear one from the 1940s (avail as of March 2023 HERE).

1940s SafTdri flip down dryer for stockings, Lingerie, socks, gloves, and scarfs. Made in the USA.

Source: Etsy

Love the yellow version of this stocking dryer. So cute!

Vintage Donaco Yellow Stocking Shell Dryer Plastic Wall Hanging for Nylons

Source: eBay

Vintage Towel Holder Donaco Plastic Malibu Sea Shell (no longer avail on Etsy)

Vintage Towel Holder Donaco Plastic Malibu Sea Shell Delux Pearlescent Bathroom Towel Holder — Source: Etsy

And there is my first vintage collection share, stay tuned for many more items in future posts.

Friends…What is a favorite item in your collection?

FURTHER READING: A Peak Into My Vintage Collection- Early 1950s Nancy Drew Books

Liz

I have started a collection of “Vintage Travel Destinations/Locations” that I would like to visit at some point in my life, over on Pinterest. This collection is slowly growing but one of those places is the ‘Grand Hotel’ on Mackinac Island, Michigan (US), seen above. It’s right out of something from the Great Gatsby and has a history that goes back to 1887.

For today’s post I’m just going to share some of the history with you, stunning images and a cool tidbit about a certain famous female swimmer from the 1940s.

Vintage Mid-Century Grand Hotel Mackinac Island Brochure — Source: Pinterest

Brief Overview of the History of the Hotel: The Grand Hotel has a marvelous page filled with a much more detailed history on the Hotel (then what I will supply you) which you can read HERE.

July 10th, 1887: Grand Hotel opens, billed as a summer retreat for vacationers who arrive by lake steamer from Chicago, Erie, Montreal, Detroit, and by rail from across the continent. It took only 93 days to complete and rates are $3 to $5 a night.

1890’s: Grand Hotel’s Front Porch – longest in the world (880 feet in length)—becomes the principal meeting place for all of Mackinac Island, as well as a promenade for the elderly and a “Flirtation Walk” for island romantics. Grand Hotel Manager James “The Comet” Hayes invites an agent of Edison Phonograph to conduct regular demonstrations of the new invention.

Turn of the Century: The automobile finds its way onto the island. Grand Hotel supports an island-wide ban. A law is passed, but not strictly enforced until the 1930s (there are still no automobiles allowed to this day on the Island).

1919: Hotel rates are $6 per person.

1935: A radio salon where patrons can listen to Jack Benny and other popular programs is added.

1957: Michigan Historical Association selects Grand Hotel as a State Historical Building.

1980: Somewhere In Time, filmed at Grand Hotel and starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Plummer, is released (there are events at the hotel celebrating this very popular romantic movie. The next one is in October).

1989: The U.S. Department of Interior designates Grand Hotel a National Historic Landmark.

There are also 5 suites in the hotel named in honour of former First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, and Barbara Bush.

Five U.S. Presidents — Clinton, Bush, Ford, Kennedy, and Truman — have visited Grand Hotel.

Images of the Grand Hotel:

1910's vintage photo of the Grand Hotel and Golf Course, Mackinac Island, circa 1915. — Source: New York Social Diary

Grand Hotel Menu 1890 for The Grand on Mackinac Island — Source: Wikipedia

Postcard showcasing the famous porch from Ripley’s Believe it or Not. “Longest Porch in the World at 800 Feet – The Grand Hotel”.

Grand Hotel Mackinac Island Vintage Postcard for the longest porch in the world. — Source: Pinterest

Photo of the Grand Hotel Mackinac Island — Source: Historic Hotels

Interior of the Grand Hotel (it’s Fancy!):

The Dining Room

Sadies Ice Cream Parlor

Woods Restaurant

The Lobby

Grand Hotel Mackinac Island Lobby Photo. — Source: Historic Hotels

Entrance to the grand ballroom…oh my…..

Grand Hotel Mackinac Island entrance to the Grand Ballroom — Source: Joe Braun Photography

Some of the Hotel Rooms & Suites:

Grand Hotel Mackinac Islands Rooms — Source: Historic Hotels

Since the only vehicles allowed on the Island are emergency vehicles and in winter snowmobiles, the only way to reach the dock from the hotel is via horse-drawn Carriage.

Grand Hotel Mackinac Island carriage — Source: Wikipedia

Now which famous swimmer from the 1940s & 50s has a tie to the hotel? That is…

Esther Williams in ‘This Time For Keeps’, 1947:

On site there is a pool called the Esther Williams Swimming Pool (5000 gallons) . It was named this because she filmed the movie ‘This Time for Keeps’ with Jimmy Durante at this hotel.

Full image of the scale of this massive pool.

Esther Williams Swimming Pool Grand Hotel — Source: Style blue print

Visiting:

The hotel is only open between May & October, so if you would like to book just head to their website and begin the fun. And please take loads of photos!

Dear friends, would you visit the Grand Hotel? Or maybe you have? If so please tell me all about it.

Liz 🙂

FURTHER READING: Collection of Vintage Travel posts by the Vintage Inn Blog

A Peak Into My Vintage Collection- A 1949 Stocking Dryer

Vintage Stocking Dryer-The History

Vintage Travel To Do List: Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island