What better way to spend the holidays than working on my website? I’ve got another day’s batch all uploaded to my website. So, here’s another post before the New Year.

Yes, that’s Abraham Lincoln reading a book while on horseback. This one is in Petersburg. There’s another one of these in Midland, MI:

This chainsaw-carved woodpecker is installed waaaaay up on the water tower in Peoria Heights:

This brand new sign in Beardstown with a giant soccer ball:

This stainless steel tree sculpture in Morton was funded by local donors (their names are on the leaves):

This vitrolite storefront is in Rushville. The “Bakers” sign was obviously added later. I’ve dug like crazy and can’t find the original jewelry store name:

This former Phillips 66 gas station in in Beardstown. The building to the right out of frame is a freestanding service bay building — also for the Phillips 66:

The streamline moderne Earnest Chatten House in Quincy:

This former Standard Oil gas station in Macomb now houses a gun shop:

The barrel canopied Clayberg Nursing Center in Cuba:

The Quincy Regional Airport was one of the most amazing stops on this entire five-week trip. If you’re even half as crazy about midcentury modern buildings as I am — and you have plans to visit Quincy — I recommend this great little guide: https://seequincy.com/guides/mid-mod-quincy/

This overhead photo from the Herald-Whig newspaper gives you a clue of the complete building design. The orange circle over on the left is a nice little rooftop, hangout spot with tables. And those blue shapes are the skylights shown in my photo below:

This theatre is in Chillicothe:

This former A&W “pilgrim hat” is in Pekin:

This terrazzo apron is in Quincy:

I believe this is the only surviving Ford Hopkins Drugs sign even though there were about 300 locations in the Midwest. It’s in Macomb although the store itself is long gone:

They were pretty classy inside — each one had a “tea room” with an extensive menu:

This one in South Bend, IN:

This sign is at the still-operating location in Quincy — part of a Midwest chain but this sign was either unique or the only one left:

Speaking of chains… this “skinny M” McDonald’s sign in Quincy has an updated panel with a horrific graphic display panel:

This sign in Macomb is a replica sign — built around 2014. The business was founded in 1908 and is still chugging along:

This sign is above the marquee at the former Illinois Theatre in Macomb:

This sign is installed in Petersburg. The sign came from another Rexall store and the name on top was changed to Potter:

This is one of those glass half-full/empty stories. One of the best Federal Electric sectional, bulb signs out there is/was in Quincy. The rectangular letters have odd-shaped spacer porcelain enamel mini panels so that this sign could be built on a curve. Here’s a photo I took in 2009:

Granted, there were chips and rust… to be expected for a 110-year old sign… (built 1911 or 1912). But in 2022, I was saddened to the core to see that the sign had been painted over! That’s no way to treat porcelain enamel and a sign as important as this one. Each of the letters had the little patent letters at the bottom and the detailed borders – now GONE! Here’s an example of what I mean from this nicely-preserved sign in Idaho Springs, ID (TG — indoors!):

Welp. Here’s what the sign looks like now. White borders, no longer navy blue. I guess it could be worse… or gone. For more about these signs, see my website here: https://www.roadarch.com/sca/federal.html

On to happier things. Like this Masonic Lodge sign in Macomb:

This rooftop sign is in Virginia at the My Little Mexico (formerly Depot Diner). I think this sign was there before the Depot Diner but all of my internet prowling came up dry:

And lastly — this cutie in West Peoria was installed around 2017. There was a boring plastic text sign there before that. The truckbed originally moved up and down – wasn’t moving though when I was there in July:

That’s a wrap for now. Back in the New Year with more. About six more posts to come.

Happy Trails,
dj & the dogs

website | blog | Flickr | Instagram

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

website | blog | Flickr | Instagram

This was one of the most productive days of the trip. I’ve got a nice big batch of highlights.

Just a couple of fiberglass statues at the American Giants Museum in Atlanta. This “professional” had a motorized waving arm which rotated at the elbow:

A restored Mortimer Snerd — more about these guys at my website here: https://www.roadarch.com/giants/ifsnerds.html

A giant fiberglass bass in Decatur. It was a fishing tackle shop but now a bar occupies the building and the fish remains:

This seal was originally installed in a fountain at the Bel-Aire Motel in Springfield. The motel was demolished but this guy escaped the wrecking ball and is now displayed at the Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill:

About 10 fiberglass animals displayed at the Nord Animal Hospital in Bloomington:

Pinky the Elephant has moved around in Springfield since he arrived in 1980. More about these DWO Elephants at my website here:
https://www.roadarch.com/critters/eledwo.html

A restored Texaco station in Decatur:

Sprague’s Service Station in Normal has also been restored and now houses a Route 66 info center & gift shop:

This restrooms building from 1964 is at the Rail Splitter Rest Area off I-55 in Springfield:

A midcentury, spiral parking garage ramp in Springfield:

This former Kresge department store building is also in Springfield:

On to the signs. This one is either a restoration or replica in Springfield:

This former Stuckey’s billboard sign is displayed at the Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill in Springfield:

This modern sign is displayed inside Motorheads. There were several Ned Kelly’s in Illinois and I think they are all gone:

This business in Springfield is gone now but the sign remains:

This sign in Springfield has been repainted countless times. You can see the patched neon tubing holes from long ago:

Mr. John’s Dry Cleaners in Streator closed in 2021 but this sign remains:

This scaffold sign is in Springfield:

This Woody’s Steak House sign in Ottawa surely revolved originally:

This Krekel’s sign with a neon chicken is probably from 1993 when this Springfield location opened:

This Bear Manufacturing sign is at Autocraft Body Shop in Springfield. More about these “happy bear” signs at my website here:
https://www.roadarch.com/signs/bear.html

Let’s close with this fantastic replica sign in Lincoln:

Back soon with even more stuff from Illinois.

Happy Trails,
dj & the dogs

website | blog | Flickr | Instagram

Let’s start off with this famed football linebacker, Dick Butkus, in Champaign:

“The Quintessential Engineer” tribute to women engineers is at the University of Illinois in Urbana:

Aphrodite’s head – a former prop at the McPherson Theater in Bloomington now displayed on top of a barrel canopy over the entrance:

This scrap metal elephant is in Lexington:

This stack of books of Aesop’s Fables with a tortoise and a hare is at the Urbana Free Library (in Urbana):

This pumpkin is at Spezia’s Cheese Shop in Danville:

This sculpture is at Tom Kirk’s art display under the bridge in Bloomington:

Bruce Goff’s Garvey House in Urbana:

The Iroquois Federal Bank in Danville:

A castle-like church in Danville from 1903 – now a theatre:

A former Coca-Cola bottling plant in Bloomington:

This theatre is in Hoopeston:

Moving on to some signs. This one is in Lexington:

I’m sure this sign in Danville had neon originally — and probably a different business nam:

Another sign in Danville:

This one is in Paxton:

This sign in in Danville:

These two are both at the Little Nugget in Danville:

This rooftop wind sculpture sign is at Keller’s Iron Skillet restaurant in Bloomington:

This Dairy Queen is in Cissna Park. These “lips” style signs are getting pretty rare:

The Majestic Theatre in Paxton burned down in 2007 but this early bulb sign (1910s or 1920s?) must have been in storage somewhere (it wasn’t on the building) and marks the former site in a park now:

And last but not least, this sign is in Urbana. I can’t think of any other signs with a series of wavy tubing like this:

About 8 more posts from Illinois to come.

Happy Trails,
dj & the dogs

website | blog | Flickr | Instagram

Let’s start with some statues. This Abraham Lincoln in Ashmore is about 72 feet tall. It was built in 1968 and has fallen on hard times:

This Lincoln is in Charleston — carved from a tree stump:

This marble John F. Kennedy sculpture is installed at a cemetery in Taylorville:

This fiberglass statue was installed in front of Chillbilly’s (now a Krekel’s) in Macon in 2011. This is a Mark Cline copy of an International Fiberglass statue. More about these statues at my website here: https://www.roadarch.com/giants/if14men.html

I believe this hand with globe in Pana was originally installed at Skate World in Kankakee. Three pages of giant hands at my website here: https://www.roadarch.com/mim/hands.html

This giant rose was installed at a gas station in Pana (the “City of Roses”) last year:

This chicken car is one of two that are installed at the Krekel’s Custard in Mount Zion. More chicken cars at my site here:

https://www.roadarch.com/critters/birdscars.html

Overlook Adventure Park in Decatur has a zoo-themed mini golf — lots of great statues:

This building is in Taylorville:

The Roseland Theatre is in Pana:

A detail from the Macon County Courthouse in Decatur:

The Mueller Co. building from 1961 in Decatur:

A mosaic at the Mueller entrance featuring their products and earlier locations:

The only still-operating location – in Arcola:

This Krekel’s Kustard walk-up stand in Decatur is from the 1950s. The sign originally had neon:

This building, currently vacant, in Decatur originally housed a Spudnuts. It housed several other donut shops after that:

A former Phillips 66 gas station in Decatur:

This liquor store sign is in Charleston:

The Silverfross Drive-in in Decatur became Elam’s Drive-in in 1954. The building was demolished in 1989 but this sign is located inside a local antiques store:

The bowling alley in Decatur is long-closed and the signs are sadly neglected:

This Lewis Cut Rate Drug Store sign is in Taylorville:

And lastly — a former Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket sign in Decatur:

Back soon with more Illinois.

Happy Trails,
dj & the dogs

website | blog | Flickr | Instagram

Day 20 was interrupted by much rain and then heavy gray-ness. So, I did laundry, cleaning and organizing inside the van, and napping. I’m combining some of the limited shooting from that day with some shots from the following day.

Casey is a fun stop if you are into giant things which are scattered all over downtown (“Big Things in a Small Town”). Here are just three examples. The bird cage where you can go inside and sit on the swinging perch:

A giant mail box that you can climb the stairs and stand inside — plus, mail a letter and the red flag on the side goes up:

A giant truck key:

This giant beer can is at a bar in Altamont:

Olney is famous for its white squirrels — hence this little tribute statue:

A few stops just over the border in Indiana — this Uncle Sam (at an All-American Car Wash) is in Vincennes. For more about these statues, see my website: https://www.roadarch.com/giants/uncles.html

This 14-foot-tall Giant Man is at the Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston. For more about these statues, see my website here: https://www.roadarch.com/giants/if14men.html

Also at the Pink Elephant in Livingston, this Futuro awaits restoration. I liked the previous green paintjob better. More about these fiberglass buildings at my website here: https://www.roadarch.com/modarch/futuro.html

A detail from the Pantheon Theatre in Vincennes, IN:

Moving on to some signs. Walton’s Hardware & Furniture in Jacksonville:

The downfall of this sign in Pittsfield is so sad — but not unrecoverable damage for you sign optimists out there (what a different some paint and, more unlikely, neon would make):

Also in Pittsfield – this sign was repainted around 2012 but 12 years later could use some touching-up.

This GE sign is in Highland:

This sign in Vincennes, IN is at the Cutter’s Way bar:

This Odd Fellows sign is in Winchester:

This one is in Pocahontas:

This Elks sign is in Jacksonville:

Also in Jacksonville:

This sign is in Olney:

This sign is in Effingham. Around 2020, the sign fell to the ground. Installing a sign pole in a frequently-water garden planter is a bad idea. Eventually, the pole rusts enough that it gives way and many a sign disaster has resulted. Anyhow, this time a small but mighty miracle resulted. Instead of replacing the sign with a boring backlit plastic box which is usually what happens, Double D Signs replicated the original sign with aluminum panels and new neon later that year:

The old sign being hoisted off the ground — photo from the bar’s website:

The new sign is back in the flower planter though, so, this scenario might be relived another 50 years from now:

Be back soon with more Illinois. 12 more days of photos to go from this trip.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Trails,
dj & the dogs

website | blog | Flickr | Instagram

Starting off with some statues: this pair of crazed, muscled-up marble lions is installed in Alton:

These Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln sculptures are installed in Alton at the site of their last debate:

This 27-foot-tall Statue of Liberty was built around 1902 and originally installed on top of a building in New York City. In 2003, it was moved to the Brooklyn Museum of Art parking lot. Last year, the statue was donated to the National Building Arts Center in Sauget where is will eventually be displayed. It’s going to cost about $50,000 to restore:

The world’s tallest man, Robert Wadlow, was born and raised in Alton — and this life-sized statue and a replica of his chair are installed in a park there:

The Bon Air opened as a bar in Alton in 1921. It has expanded considerably since 1981 when it became Fast Eddie’s Bon Air:

This theatre in Alton has been vacant since 1977:

A couple of midcentury buildings — this one in Collinsville:

And this one in Granite City:

This vacant, former Henry’s Hamburgers location in East St. Louis would have looked like this originally:

This Hen House in Mitchell has been vacant since at least 2013:

This former Tastee-Freez is in Venice:

This Oddfellows Lodge sign is in Jerseyville:

This sign in Pittsfield was repainted and the neon restored around 2021:

This sign is in Roxana:

This one is in Madison:

This sign is in Alton:

The Jacoby Furniture sign in Alton was adapted for the Jacoby Art Center in 2006:

The neon on this sign in Granite City was restored in 2020:

This hardware sign in Edwardsville:

was adapted in 2012:

This recreated local sign is installed at the It’s Electric Neon Sign Park in Granite City with two other recreated signs:

The last Mister Donut location still operating in the U.S. — in Godfrey:

Back with more Illinois soon — about 12 days & posts left for this trip.

Happy trails,
dj & the dogs

website | blog | Flickr | Instagram

Let’s start with a few statues. This lovely chicken and giant Coke bottle are among the many statues at the former Crainville Landing in Carterville. This place started out as a backyard shed business and statue seller. It evolved into a mini golf and frozen custard stand. The place has been abandoned since the owner passed away in 2019:

This panther is installed inside the high school gym in O’Fallon. The schools sports teams are the Panthers:

This Abraham Lincoln statue in Mount Vernon stands in front of a courthouse where he presented a case:

This restored Big John statue is in Eldorado. More about these statues at my website here:
https://www.roadarch.com/giants/il3.html

This former midcentury Bank of Illinois and Trust is in Mount Vernon:

Another midcentury bank: the former First National Bank in Wayne City – now the city’s Village Hall and Library:

This Art Deco building is at Sandoval Community High School in Sandoval:

This terrazzo apron is at a former Libson women’s clothing store in Belleville:

This Chuck Wagon in Fairview Heights was part of a Southern Illinois chain with about 15 locations. This is the only decently-preserved sign left (although the neon is gone). The one at the original Collinsville location has been badly adapted for a coffee place:

This ice cream stand and restaurant is in Belleville:

This clock in Belleville is at a closed used car lot along with several other nice neon signs:

This sign is in Fairfield:

Keil’s in Belleville was originally a hardware store. The hardware panel was covered over much later with this “since 1858” panel. The space now houses Blanquart’s Rusty Gem Vintage Market:

This sign is in Salem:

This sign in Belleville was knocked over in high winds in 2011 and badly bent. It was miraculously restored:

This sign is in Fairview Heights:

This vacuum form plastic soda sign in Breese is at the Excel Bottling Co.:

And lastly, the wonderful drive-in theatre sign in Belleville:

Back soon with more Illinois.

Happy trails,
dj & the dogs

website | blog | Flickr | Instagram

We’re gonna be here a while. I spent 15 days in Illinois before turning tail back to California. So, 15 posts will be coming your way over the coming weeks.

Let’s start with some buildings. This midcentury modern American Legion is in Chester. I’m not sure what the technical terms are but I have always called these “barrel roofs with legs”:

The “Dental Dome” in Du Quoin might be midcentury but a lot of these were built in the 1980s as well:

This Art Deco building in Du Quoin houses Decker Chiropractic. I haven’t been able to determine the original occupant:

A couple of heartbreaking situations. The long-closed Massac Theatre is in Metropolis:

…and the long-vacant, former Standard Oil “Red Crown” station in Vienna. The bay at the right has no roof and there are trees growing inside:

A former Phillips 66 gas station in Zeigler now houses a used car lot office and repair service:

Moving on to some statues. There are about 19 of these Popeye-themed statues in Chester. The city adds a new one every year. This is Wimpy:

These wizard statues are at Jeremy “Boo” Rochman Memorial Park in Carbondale. A very sad story turned into something good. Jeremy loved to draw wizards and dragons and he was obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons. He was killed in a car crash in 1993. This property was turned into a public park with castle-style buildings and about 30 statues based on Boo’s drawings:

The Big Muddy Monster in Murphysboro is a local legend. There’s a festival every year and a couple of sculptures:

The mascot for Southern Illinois University at Carbondale is the Saluki. This concrete sculpture is one of a pair. There are also a couple of other bronze Saluki sculptures nearby:

This giant wrench sign is in Marion. If you like giant tools (hammers, saws, and the like), I’ve got a bunch at my website here:
https://www.roadarch.com/mim/misc5.html

I’m guessing that this billboard style sign next to the highway in Du Quoin was originally built in the 1960s. There are two triangulated panels to be seen by travelers driving from both directions. I’m sure there channel letters had neon originally. The graphic display box there now probably had a readerboard with change-able letters. I wish I could find vintage photos of this one:

This sign is at Benson’s Wine Bar in Chester. The “badge” at the bottom center reads Neon Sign Co. in Herrin which must have been the dominant porcelain enamel, neon sign producer in the area as so many signs have this credit:

This modern margarita sign is in Anna at Los Dos Gallos Mexican Bar and Grill:

Another modern sign at the long closed Annex Theatre in Herrin which has been a coffee shop since around 2000:

I believe this neon dancing woman in McClure was originally created in the 1980s for a strip and drag club in Memphis, TN. There were supposedly about 7 or these created but I believe this is the only one still on public display. The club in Memphis has been vacant for years but still has a neon pair of legs over the entrance. This sign is at The Pony which closed last year. There is another location in Memphis which is still open but does not have one of these signs. But that affiliation must explain how this ended up in McClure:

This Knights of Columbus sign is in Herrin (yep, that’s another Herrin sign co. badge on the left):

This long-closed cleaners is in Benton:

And lastly — this Henrici’s Pizza and More sign is in Herrin. While it might look vintage, it was actually built in 2003 by Roth Signs. The business has been closed for a few years but this sign remains. If you like pizza chef signs, I’ve got a bunch of ’em at my website here:
https://www.roadarch.com/sca/pizza.html

Back soon with more Illinois stuff.

Happy trails,
dj & the dogs

website | blog | Flickr | Instagram

This former Conoco cottage gas station is in Hayti, MO:

The mid-century modern Temple Israel is in Paducah, KY:

The Columbia Theatre is in Paducah, KY:

This former Coca-Cola bottling plant in Paducah, KY was restored in 2013 and has been repurposed for multiple tenants:

This pink elephant is in Fenton, MO. These statues were produced by DWO Fiberglass – for other examples, see my website here:
https://www.roadarch.com/critters/ele.html

This flying moose is at the Manac Trailers in Oran, MO. This is the mascot for the Manac which produces many types of truck trailers. There are several of these statues in Canada but I think only one other in the U.S.:

This Mel, the Mellow Mushroom pizza restaurant chain mascot, is at the Paducah location. Each of these recycled metal statues installed at many locations are different:

This sign is in Cape Girardeau, MO:

This sign is in Sikeston, MO:

This sign is in Paducah:

The Boomland fireworks store is in Charleston, MO:

This modern sign is in Paducah:

The Dexter Queen in Dexter, MO was originally a Daisy Queen (never a Dairy Queen):

The Melba Theatre is in De Soto, MO. This is what happens when you go cheap and replace neon with LED. The cheap plastic tubing usually comes loose, breaks, and needs replacing in just a few years. And, as you can see here, it never makes for straight lines and has ugly bent corners — no replacement for a skilled human that can bend neon precisely. Not only will the neon last much longer but it looks far better than LED during the day (beautiful shadows) and night (better glow and reflection off the panels).

This store is long gone but this sign in Hayti, MO remains:

We’ll be moving on to Illinois with the next post (soon!).

Happy trails,
dj & the dogs

website | blog | Flickr | Instagram