|
RobbHaas Family Pages |
Stoney Haven Motel Salem Township, Delaware County, Indiana |
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| Location - | |
| Salem Township, Delaware County, Indiana | |
| 1958-1960: State Highway 67 South of Muncie | On the west side of the highway south of CR400S and north of CR500S | |
| Coordinates: 40°07'26.92N 85°27'06.60W | |
| Address (When Robbins Family lived there): RR 1, Box 131A, Daleville, Indiana (No ZIP Codes Then) S2, The phone number was AT 2-4949 (AT stood for Atlas - the two letters in all phone numbers were later changed to the corresponding numbers making this phone number 282-4949 as it would be today) S13. | |
| Google Custom Map | |
| - Pictures of Motel,
about 1959: (Ph13291-003 to 005.jpg) -
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ako2MAzrZKVeg91hlUNHOpLtVAx6LA?e=XYZfGi - 003: Stoney Haven Motel House - 004: Stoney Haven Motel - Motel Rooms - Looking NW - abt 1959 - 005: Stoney Haven Motel - Office and gas pump - abt 1959 |
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| Postcard Received while living at this house - 3 June 1959 - Link | |
| Property Description: A part of the West half (1/2) of the Southeast Quarter (1/4) of Section one (1), Township nineteen (19) north, Range nine (9) east, more particularly described as follows: Commencing at a point Eleven hundred fifty-four and three tenths (1154.3) feet south of the Northwest corner of the Southeast Quarter (1/4) of said Section One (10, and running East and parallel with the North line of said Section one (1) township nineteen (19) north Range nine (9) east, three hundred thirty-nine (339) feet more or less to the North right-of-way line of present State Road No. 67, thence in a southwesterly direction and along the north right-of-way line of the present State Road No. 67 to where the right-of-way line intersects with the west line of the Southeast Quarter (1/4) of Section One (1) township nineteen (19) north, range nine (9) east; thence north on said west line of said southeast quarter (1/4) of said Section one (1), Four Hundred sixty-two (462) feet to the place of beginning. Containing 1.797 acres, more or less. S3, S5, S6, | |
| Property Layout and House Floor plan - I-19, |
 (Click for larger image) As it was in 1959 Ph12533.jpg |
| Occupants - 1958 - 1960 |
| Walter C. Robbins, Sr., ID0005 | Norma Louise Haas Robbins, ID0006 | Walt Robbins, Jr., ID0001 | Phillip Eugene Robbins, ID0007 | Living, ID0013 |
| Timeline: | |
| 1 March 1957 | Sellers: Armon & Ruth Norris - Buyers: Michael & Adelaide LaPota - S3, |
| 13 Nov 1957 | Sellers: Michael & Adelaide LaPota - Buyers: William & Mary Farish - S4, S5, |
| 27 Aug 1958 | Sellers: William & Mary Farish - Buyers: Orville & Ann Smith - S6, S22, |
| Sept, Oct 1958 | Sellers: Orville and Ann Smith - Buyers: Walt & Norma Robbins - S7, S8, S18, |
| Aug 1960 | Sellers: Walt & Norma Robbins - Buyers: Harold & Lois Lykins - S9, S17, |
| 11 Jan 1961 | Sellers: Walt & Norma Robbins - Promissory Note - Signed by Gertrude and Jay Telleson - S10, |
| 20 Oct 1969 | Rezoning for expansion S19, |
| Sept 1972 | Display Ad for Stoney Haven Motel - Ph12481.jpg S20, |
| March 1973 | Classified Ad - For Sale (Asking Price; $65,000.00- S21, |
| Feb 1989 | Adult Bookstore operating at Stoney Haven Motel - S23, |
| Notes - |
| This business was
purchased in 1958 after leaving the
110-acre farm near Eaton,
Indiana. My father had gotten very sick with yellow
jaundice and thought it best to give up the farm for a less
stressful endeavor. He was working full-time at Chevrolet Muncie and
did the maintenance, etc. at the motel. Mom did most of the work
related to the rooms themselves, cleaning, washing, ironing, etc.
Dad took care of all the maintenance of the buildings, rooms, etc.
There was always something wrong it seemed. Each room had a TV
and in those days they operated off of antennas, no cable TV.
It seemed we had our TV repairman (Sam Jones) on speed dial.
The work was tremendous and the profit was just not there. The
timing was bad because this is when the large motels were just
coming into being. The first ones, the Holiday Inn, had just moved
to Muncie not far from our motel. (The Holiday Inn opened 31 Jan
1960 - [S25] ) Before the advent of the large
motels those in existence were small, mostly family-owned ones like
this one. All of these smaller businesses were hurt and most had to
cease operation or change to being apartments or other uses.
Currently the Stoney Haven is an apartment complex. See the
1959 Store License for the motel for the address, no sales tax yet
S2. The motel contained 6 guest rooms plus an office in a one-story configuration. The residence was a small Bedford stone home with a kitchen, living room and 3 small bedrooms plus one bathroom and a 2-car attached garage. The property was 1.75 acres and there was a large sign out in the front yard I5. The cost of a room was about $6-$10 per night. There was a gas pump located in the parking lot in front of the office at the south end of the motel rooms. This pump can be seen in the Telephone Ad, I7, S11 page 15. In the back yard behind the motel and house sat an unfinished cement block, 2 bedroom house and a small wooden storage shed I8, I9. There was also a large Propane Gas Tank which supplied fuel for the heating for the house and the motel I9. The motel sign (see images below) was out by the highway. When State Road 67 was converted into a 4-lane road with a median the area of the motel yard where the sign was located was taken up by the expansion of the new road. Sources: S1, Images: I5, I6, After 1960 there was a restaurant for a short time - the eating area was in the living room and dining room of the house (see telephone ad below) S1. The former motel rooms are now three apartments [2011] The house had 3 bedrooms, one bath, a living room/Dining room with a fireplace at the north end. There was a 2-car attached garage. The main bedroom was in the northwest corner of the house - the other two bedrooms were at the south end next to the garage, but you had to walk through the one bedroom to get to the other one - not a very convenient arrangement. The bathroom had a bathtub but the shower was a handheld unit instead of being high on the wall, the hose was short and not very convenient. The floors, with the exception of the kitchen and bathroom were all beautiful hardwood flooring. The outside was covered in Bedford Stone. When moving to this home the kids had to change schools. On the farm they had attended Eaton Schools but now they moved to a new school – Daleville schools. This was quite a change for them and the boys especially did not adjust well. It was quickly determined this was not the life the family had in mind so another house was in the future. The motel was sold and the North of Daleville house was purchased. |
| Motel Account Books 1958, 1959 - #1, S11 #2, S12 - 1960 - |
| "Spending the Night in Muncie-Tourist
Camps, Motor Courts and Motels" The Bulletin (Delaware County
Historical Society), Vol. 6, No. 5, Sept/Oct 2018 - Stoney Haven Motel is listed at bottom of article |
| Ownership Succession |
| 1 March 1957: Sellers: Armon & Ruth Norris - Buyers: Michael & Adelaide LaPota - S3, |
| 13 Nov 1957: Sellers: Michael & Adelaide LaPota - Buyers: William & Mary Farish - S4, S5, |
| 27 Aug 1958: Sellers: William & Mary Farish - Buyers: Orville & Ann Smith - S6, |
| Sept, Oct 1958: Sellers: Orville and Ann Smith - Buyers: Walt & Norma Robbins - S7, S8, |
| Sellers: Walt &
Norma Robbins - Aug 1960: Buyers: Harold & Lois Lykins - S9, 11 Jan 1961: Promissory Note - Signed by Gertrude and Jay Telleson - S10, |
| Sources | ||
|
Source Citation |
Image |
|
| S1 | Book: Telephone Directory, Muncie,
Delaware County, Indiana, page 118. Indiana Bell Telephone Company,
July 1961. Repository: Muncie Public Library. Acc001943/Ph9045.jpg
Extract: |
 Telephone Directory Ph9045.jpg |
| S2 | Store license for Stoney Haven Motel for 1959 - License # 60335
-Issued by Indiana Dept. of State Revenue and dated 6 May 1959 .
Acc000340/Doc0629.pdf Extract: |
 |
| S3 | Land Document: Conditional Sales Contract. Delaware
County, Indiana. Sellers: Armon & Ruth Norris. Buyers: Michael &
Adelaide LaPota. 1 March 1957. Acc002414/Doc1207.pdf.
Extract: |
Doc1207.pdf |
| S4 | Land Document: Assignment of Conditional Sales Contract
for Purchase of Real Estate and Personal Property. LaPota and Farish.
13 Nov 1957. Acc002415/Doc1208.pdf
Extract: |
Doc1208.pdf |
| S5 | Land Record: Agreement for the Exchange of Real Estate
and Personal Property. Delaware County, Indiana. Stoney Haven Motel.
Farish and LaPota. 13 Nov 1957. Acc002416/Doc1209.pdf
Extract: |
Doc1209.pdf |
| S6 | Land Record: Assignment of Conditional Sales
Contract for Purchase of Real Estate. Delaware County, Indiana. 27
Aug 1958. Farish and Smith. Acc002417/Doc1210.pdf
Extract: |
Doc1210.pdf |
| S7 | Land Record: Offer to Purchase Real Estate. Walter &
Norma Robbins, Buyers - Orville & Ann Smith Buyers. Kirtley Real
Estate. 24 Sept 1958. Stoney Haven Motel. Salem Township, Delaware
County, Indiana. Acc002418/Doc1212.pdf
Extract: |
Doc1212.pdf |
| S8 | Land Record: Bill of Sale. Stoney Haven Motel. Sellers:
Orville & Ann Smith. Buyers: Walter & Norma Robbins. Delaware
County, Indiana. 1 Oct 1958. Acc002419/Doc1213.pdf - Lists the Personal Property contained in the sale of the motel - very detailed |
Doc1213.pdf |
| S9 | Land Record: Assignment of Conditional Sales Contract for
Purchase of Real Estate. Stoney Haven Motel. Delaware County,
Indiana. Sellers: Walter & Norma Robbins. Buyers: Harold & Lois
Lykins. 20 Aug 1960. Acc002420/Doc1214.pdf - Signatures of Walter and Norma Robbins |
Doc1214.pdf |
| S10 | Financial Record: Promissory Note to Walter C. Robbins
and Norma L. Robbins, from Gertrude Marie and Jay Telleson. Stoney
Haven Motel. 11 Jan 1961, $7,443.55. Acc001611/Doc0887.pdf
Note: |
Doc0887.pdf |
| S11 | Financial Record. Account Book for Stoney Haven Motel,
Sept 1958 to Oct 1959. Walt & Norma Robbins. Acc002827/Doc1801.pdf
PDF Pages: |
Doc1801.pdf |
| S12 | Financial Record. Stoney Haven Motel Account Book No. 2.
Sept 1958 to Dec 1959. Walt & Norma Robbins. Acc002829/Doc1804.pdf
PDF Pages: |
Doc1804.pdf |
| S13 | Business Card and blank registration card for the Stoney Haven Motel, about 1959. Acc001305/Doc1160.pdf | Doc1160.pdf |
| S14 | Financial Record, 1960 Stoney Haven Motel Account Book (Jan - June). Acc000987/Doc1159.pdf | |
| S15 | Personal Property Bill of Sale. Stoney Haven Motel, Salem
Township, Delaware County, Indiana. 20 Aug 1960. Sellers: Walter &
Norma Robbins. Buyers: Harold & Lois Lykins. Acc002421/Doc1215.pdf 1. Personal property associated with the Motel listed 2. Signatures of Walt & Norma Robbins |
|
| S16 | Land Record, Assignment of Contract for Purchase of Real Estate.
Stoney Haven Motel, Salem Township, Delaware County, Indiana. 11 Jan
1961. Sellers: Walter C. and Norma L. Robbins - Buyers: Harold L.
and Lois Helen Lykins. Acc002422/Doc1216.pdf Extract: 1. Property Description 2. Signatures of Walt & Norma Robbins 3. Sellers: Walter & Norma Robbins and Harold and Lois Lykins 4. Buyer: Gertrude Helen Telleson |
|
| S17 | Real Estate Display Ad Muncie Star (Muncie, Indiana), 3 July 1960, page 5D, Col. 6, 7. https://www.newspapers.com/image/252235986 , accessed 19 July 2019. Doc5258-clip.pdf Several pieces of real estate listed, one of which is for the Stoney Haven Motel near the center: -- HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO "STRIKE GOLD" -- "Stoney Haven" MOTEL - St. Rd. 67, South - SIX UNITS - office- Air-Conditioner, TV in each - 2 ACRES - 3-Bedroom, Stone, Modern Home. Gas heat. Att. 2-car garage . . . MANY people are interested in this exceptional investment opportunity -- "Don't wait till it's too late." YOUR property will be seriously considered in TRADE! Tuttle Realty Co. 104 Western Res. Bldg - Phone At 8-1937 Robertson, AT 4-9897 . . . Tuttle, AT 8-1317 . . . Dunn, AT 4-4151 |
|
| S18 | Muncie Star-Press (Muncie, Indiana), 18 Sept 1958, page 22, Col.
7. https://www.newspapers.com/image/251867813
, accessed 20 July 2019.
Doc5259.pdf STONEY HAVEN MOTEL (4 Miles out of Muncie) 9 Units -- This motel includes very attractive, 3-bedroom, stone ranch house and 3-room caretaker's home. There are 6 motel rental units, plus office unit. All stone construction and excellent furnishings with tiled baths. Air-conditioning in all rooms. Latest radient heating. Easy terms or trade Kirtley 225 N. Mulberry AT 4-2585 |
|
| S19 | Muncie Star (Muncie, Indiana), 21 Oct 1969, Page 5, Col. 5
https://www.newspapers.com/image/252339903
, accessed 20 July 2019. The Board of County Commissioners Monday [20 Oct 1969] approved rezoning of three plots as recommended by the plan commission . . . The REZONINGS passed were for . . . and Bernard Reagan's Stoney Haven Motel, Ind. 67 south, to allow for expansion. |
|
| S20 | Muncie Star (Muncie, Indiana), 3 Sept 1972, page 4B, Col. 1, 2. https://www.newspapers.com/image/252445920, Accessed 21 July 2019. Ph12481.jpg | |
| S21 | Muncie Star (Muncie, Indiana), 29 Mar 1973, page 38, Col. 2.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/252074495, accessed 21 July 2019.
From Image: For Sale by Owner Stoney Haven Motel and 2 Houses Commercially Zoned Good Road Frontage 5 1/2 Miles South of Muncie on State Road 67 Asking $65,000. Brokers Invited |
|
| S22 | Muncie Star (Muncie, Indiana), 26 Aug 1958, Page 10, Col. 1-3, https://www.newspapers.com/image/251363189, accessed 21 July 2019. Ph12482.jpg | |
| S23 | 1. Muncie Star (Muncie, Indiana), 9 Nov 1989, page 1, Col.
1, 2. https://www.newspapers.com/image/253644155, accessed 17 July
2019 9 Nov 1989 - Adult Bookstore - Rocky Fordyce plead guilty Stoney Haven motel repossesed by Stanley and DeLois Mroz - they had previously sold it to Fordyce - Photo of Fordyce 2. "Adult Bookstore/Motel Raided" Muncie Star (Muncie, Indiana), 18 Feb 1989, page 1, Col. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/253209741, accessed 17 July 2019 Photo of Fordyce being put in police car 3. "Adult Bookstore Reported Closing" Muncie Star (Muncie, Indiana), 25 Feb 1989, page 9A, Col. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/253212388, Accessed 17 July 2019 Motel was sold last month by Stanley and DeLois Mroz to Gen-Dyce Copr., and Anderson based organization headed by Rocky L. Fordyce Jr. |
|
| S24 | 1960 Polk Muncie City Directory. "U.S. City Directories,
1822-1995" [database on-line w/ images]. Original Data: Polk's
Muncie (Delaware County, Ind.) City Directory, 1960. R. L. Polk &
Co, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1961. www.ancestry.com, accessed 18 Jan 2020,
Doc5565-002.pdf, page 153. Stoney Haven Motel RD 1 Daleville Sm twp |
|
| S25 | Delaware County Historical Society (Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana) "The Society Quarterly" Vol. 9, No. 2 - Summer 2021, Page 10 | |
| Images Click Thumbnails for larger Images - Higher Res Versions Available for most Images - Contact Me |
| I1 | I2 | I3 |
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| Stoney Haven Motel, 2010 | Motel House With drive |
Phil pulling Smokey Dog Abt. 1960 Stoney Haven Motel House |
| Ph8713.jpg [Source: Google Maps Street View] | Ph2747.jpg | Ph9151-004.jpg |
| I4 | I5 | I6 | I7 | I8 | I9 | ||||
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| Phil Walking from Motel Rooms toward House |
Stoney Haven Motel Sign | Stoney Haven Motel Sign | Telephone Directory |
Storage Shed Back Yard |
Smokey Dog - Hector Cat behind Motel House Extra House at left looking North |
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Ph9689-005.jpg |
Ph3228-002.jpg | Ph3229.jpg | Ph9045.jpg | Ph2753-002.jpg | Ph9151-001.tif |
| I10 | I11 | I12 | I13 | I14 | I15 |
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| Duke Dog Stoney Haven Motel August 1959 |
Telephone Book Ad Walt & Norma Robbins Muncie, Indiana, 1958 or 1959 Thanks Mike!!! |
Walt Robbins, Jr Stoney Haven Motel Sign 1959 |
Haas Family Christmas 24 Dec 1960 Stoney Haven Motel Home |
Guest Rooms Stoney Haven Motel abt 1960 |
Stoney Haven Motel Home abt 1960 |
Ph10986.jpg |
Ph11986.jpg | Ph12364-003.jpg | Ph12364-010.jpg | Ph12370-002.jpg | Ph12370-003.jpg |
| I-16 | I-17 | I-18 | I-19 | I-20 | I-21 |
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| Stoney Haven Motel Looking North Motel Rooms behind Gas Pump about 1959 Ph12528-001.jpg |
Stoney Haven Motel Gas Pump - Motel Sign Looking North East about 1959 Ph12528-003.jpg |
Stoney Haven Motel Gas Pump - Drive - Posts at north end of Drive About 1959 Ph12528-004.jpg |
Property Layout Stoney Haven Motel As it was about 1959 Ph12533.jpg |
Shed behind House Stoney Haven Motel abt 1960 Ph12544-001.jpg |