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Iowa Signs (page 1)

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Ames
Pantorium
Ames, IA		 Ford Tractor [gone]
Anamosa, IA
The Ames Pantorium, a dry cleaning business, opened here in 1925. This sign was built in 1937. The building now houses KHOI radio. [map]

The Ford Tractor dealership had been gone for years but this sign remained until 2024. It is now in a private collection. The letters on this sign appear to be plastic and were probably lit from behind originally. The neon might have been added later. These signs were mass-produced but are rare now. There are others like this including these in Groveton, TX, Guttenburg, IA, and Dayton, OR.

More Ames:
Lincoln Lodge Motel [gone]
Sportsmen's Lounge [map]

Ankeny:
Silver Bullet Bar

Atlantic:
Super Bowl [gone]

Bancroft:
Farmers & Traders Savings Bank

Lincoln Cafe [gone]
Belle Plaine, IA		 J.I. Case Company
Belle Plaine, IA		 Twin Bridges
Motor Inn [gone]
Bettendorf, IA		 Kruck Plumbing
& Heating
Boone, IA		 Lincolnville Motel
Burlington, IA
The Lincoln Cafe opened in 1925. This embossed porcelain neon sign appeared to be from then. This photo is from 2010. The sign was gone by 2016.

This J.I. Case Company sign hangs over the Sankot Garage which opened in 1914. The company produced tractors and agricultural equipment. These neon signs were mass-produced and there are still several still on display around the country. For more, see this website. [map]

The Twin Bridges Motor Inn sign was probably built in the 1950s or 1960s. This photo is from 2012. The motel and sign were still there in 2015 but gone by 2016.

Kruck Plumbing & Heating was established in 1941. This sign is either from then or slightly after that. When the business moved to a new location in the early 1950s, this sign was brought along. The sign has been repainted since this 2012 photo. It is now a bright green. For more, see this website. [map]

The Lincolnville Motel sign is probably from the 1950s. It is partially lit at night. For more, see this website. [map]

More Boone:
Hull Plumbing & Heating

More Burlington:
Sickels Cleaners & Launderers

Road Machinery
& Supplies Co. [gone]
Cedar Rapids, IA		 Leonardo's
Restaurant
Cedar Rapids, IA		 Ced-Rel Motel &
Supper Club
Cedar Rapids, IA
The Road Machinery & Supplies Co. tractor sign was probably from the 1950s. It was gone by 2019.

Leonardo's Restaurant sign appeared to be from the 1960s or 1970s. In 2021, the sign was redone with plastic panels and LED tubing. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

I believe the Ced-Rel Motel & Supper Club opened in 1958. This photo is from 2006. Around 2016, the sign was restored with LED tubing instead of neon. For more, see this website. [map]

More Cedar Rapids:
Parlor City Pub & Eatery
Quaker Oats

Launderama
Centerville, IA		 Hotel Charitone
Chariton, IA
These Launderama signs were mass-produced. They are probably from the 1960s. The "Norge" part of this sign has been crossed out. There's another example in Lewisburg, WV. There were also non-Norge versions of these signs like this one in Bradford, OH.

The Hotel Charitone was built in 1923. A slightly different sign was installed in 1931. This sign is probably from the 1950s. The signs were always installed on the corner of the building like this. This photo is from 2010. In 2013, the building and sign were restored. The sign now has LED tubing instead of neon. For more, see this website. [map]

Boegel's Men's Wear
Clinton, IA		 F.O.E. [gone]
Clinton, IA
Boegel's Men's Wear opened around 1908. This sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

This Fraternal Order of Eagles sign appeared to be unique. I had never seen one with this shape and with neon on the side like this. It was removed around 2019.

More Clinton:
Mike's Shoe Hospital [gone]

Columbus Junction:
Frostie Root Beer [gone]

Hy-Vee Food Store [gone]
Corydon, IA		 Hy-Vee Food Store
Leon, IA
These Hy-Vee Food Stores signs are from the 1950s or 1960s. Most of the supermarket chain's signs have been replaced with modern ones. The Corydon location had closed by 2018 and the sign was gone. The Leon store and sign were still there in 2018. [map]

Harris Pizza [gone]
Davenport, IA		 Emeis Automotive
Davenport, IA		 Herb's Tap
Davenport, IA
Harris Pizza was established in Rock Island, IL in 1960. This Davenport restaurant was the company's third location. By 2024, this location had closed and the sign was removed. For more, see this website.

Emeis Automotive was established in 1906 and had been there since 1922. This sign is probably from the 1950s. In 2016, there was a fire in the building. In 2017, the building was sold. The buyer plans to restore the sign. The sign was missing in 2018. It returned in 2019 and was adapted for the Stardust event center. For more, see this website. [map]

The Herb's Tap sign is probably not that old but it still has fun graphics. [map]

More Davenport:
Bayer's Realty
Bowlmor Lanes
Mac's Tavern

Iowa
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