Another mostly sunny, productive day. So, another big post.

Let’s start with “Wee Willy the Wolf” in Aroma Park who’s been installed in front of the fire department since at least 2008. They’ve given him his own helmet and boots:

This lion sculpture is on top of the monument sign at the Municipal Bank in Momence. There is another one in Bourbonnais which I’ll have to shoot this coming summer:

This bulldog is installed next to the Animal Wellness Center in Monee:

This giant pumpkin is in Minooka:

These giant burgers are at Joey’s Red Hots in Orland Park:

This neon draped cone is at the Dixie Delite in St. Anne:

This giant potted plant in Kankakee is installed at a community garden. Rainwater is collected by the leaves which can be accessed by the spigots below:

This former Dog n Suds drive-in is in Crest Hill:

The Mar Theatre is in Wilmington:

This former train station in Peoria now houses city offices:

This long-vacant building in Lockport has an opal glass letter sign. More about these signs at my website here: https://www.roadarch.com/sca/opal.html

Although some letters are missing, you can get a clear idea of how these letters were illuminated: square glass plates of each raised letter were placed behind the metal panels. Then a wire with bulbs was lit behind the panels:

The Pontiac Daily Leader newspaper building in Pontiac has several of these mosaic murals which depict the history of printing.

Moving on to a big batch of signs. This one is in Dwight:

This business in Kankakee is long gone but the sign is still hanging:

This rooftop sign is in Marseilles is for the former Thompson Hotel:

This sign is at the Rescue Mission in Peoria:

This sign is installed above the plastic box sign for Southwest Auto Salvage in Lockport:

This sign is in Kankakee:

Boz Hot Dogs was a small Chicago area chain. There are still about six locations left but only a few old signs. This one is in Morris:

An example of the mass-produced General Electric 3-panel signs with arrows in Bradley. The bulbs are still chasing:

This still-operating restaurant is in Joliet:

This sign is in Washington:

And lastly — this still-operating restaurant is in Crest Hill:

A close-up of the bubbling champagne glass:

I’ll be back in the new year with more.

Happy Holidays & Happy Trails,
dj & the dogs

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