Let’s start with some statues. This one was originally installed in this park in Davenport, IA where it served as the entrance to Mother Goose Land in the 1950s:

The kiddie park is gone but the goose remains:

According to the artist, Harry Dumpty was the brother of Humpty but less known because he didn’t fall. This sculpture is installed at the DeKalb Public Library in DeKalb, IL:

A snowman at Santa’s Village in East Dundee, IL:

I stumbled upon this cute restaurant in Rochelle, IL. Back home after doing my research, it turns out this was a big chain but this is the only one left:

This building in Davenport, IA was built as a First National Bank. Later, it became the Brenton First National Bank. The building was adapted in 2020 for The Brenton apartments:

This was the administrative building for Rockford Products in Rockford, IL. In the 1950s and 1960s, the company was the world’s largest manufacturer of fasteners. It led to Rockford’s nickname of “Screw City.” The company closed in 2016 and this building has been vacant since then. I missed the fence details — each picket has screws and bolts on top.

I also missed the cool clocktower with bolts for numbers around the corner — here’s a snippet from GoogleStreetView:

The Medical Surgical Building in Elgin, IL has been abandoned since 2002:

The Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove, IL:

This Salvation Army building in Elgin, IL is from 1930:

The Lincoln Executive Plaza in Arlington Heights, IL was built from 1981-1985. The building later housed the Daily Herald but it has been vacant since 2019:

The Dairy Queen in Lombard, IL turned 70 this year:

I just found out today that the oldest surviving Dog n Suds location in Robinson, IL has been demolished and the original “Rover” sign was sold. Although I can’t confirm after much searching, this building in Davenport, IA has to be the only surviving wedge-shaped building since Robinson is gone. Note the canopy in front was removed and the building has been used for storage for years:

This single-sided sign is in Elgin, IL, Note the bricks are actually a porcelain enamel panel:

This cocktail glass sign is installed at the Bowlmor Lanes in Davenport, IA:

The real estate company in Davenport, IA is long gone but these sign panels way up at the top of the building’s side remain:

I believe this restaurant in Crystal Lake, IL opened in 1975. This sign might be from then:

This “skeleton” window sign is at the 1st Shoe Repair in Waukegan, IL:

This sign is in Clarendon Hills, IL:

The Colonial Lodge Motel sign in Elgin, IL was built in 1955. My photo from 2006:

Unfortunately, by 2022, the panels had been painted over and the sign looks like this now:

Last photo for this post – this restaurant and sign in Villa Park, IL are from 1962:

There are about six more days of Illinois before we move on to Indiana.

Happy Trails,
dj & the dogs

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