The Shepherd Laundries Co. was established in the 1890s. I believe the company is still in business as Shepherd's Uniform & Linen Supply Co. This sign is probably from the 1920s or 1930s. This photo is from 2011. The sign was gone by 2016.

When other sign companies began actively producing backlit opal glass letter signs, Federal Electric jumped on the bandwagon. Originally, the company got its letters from Flexlume. However, in 1921, Federal Electric patented its own "Silveray" letters. By 1923, the company was describing its "embossed snow white silveray glass" electric letter signs in its advertising and offering customers 12-month payment plans. Federal Electric also began producing modular signs with opal glass letters. The Rex Hotel and W.A. Haslam signs are among the handful of examples of this type to survive.

At some point, neon tubing was retrofitted over the "Rex" letters. The bottom panel which was also lit with neon was most likely added at the same time. The opal glass letters were presumably not lit by then. The sign's panels were originally Federal Electric's standard navy blue. They had faded considerably by 2005. By 2010, they were painted light blue and the neon was removed from the bottom panel. The photos above are from 2012. Thankfully, the border details were left in their original state. While the long-closed hotel's sign has not been lit for decades, the owner is considering restoring it. [map]