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email: roadarch@outlook.com |
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| Illinois Signs (page 15) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Rudy's Barbeque [gone] Shawneetown, IL |
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| Rudy's Barbeque started out as a sandwich shop in 1932. This porcelain panel sign is probably from the 1950s. It is about five feet tall. The restaurant closed in 2016 and was put up for sale in 2017. The owner would like the sign to go to a museum or collector but has not made a decision yet. When it was working, the sign was lit with red neon. Vandals kept throwing things at the sign and the owner gave up on repairing the tubing in recent years. Maintenance was too expensive and it was hard to find someone to work on it. The sign was removed in 2018. It went to a sign seller. For more, see this website. |
| Shawnee Chief Motel Shawneetown, IL |
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| The Shawnee Chief Motel opened in 1958. This sign appears to be from then. The neon has been broken since at least 2013. [map] |
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Skokie:
Charcoal Oven Crawford Church Shopping Center [gone] |
| Palmer's Beloit Nurseries [gone] South Beloit, IL |
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| Palmer's Beloit Nurseries was established in 1917. This sign was probably from the 1950s. When this photo was taken in 2012, it wasn't clear if the store was still open. The sign was gone by 2018. |
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More South Beloit:
Bean Shoe Service |
| Hi-Way Bakery South Chicago Heights, IL |
Sauk Trail Car Wash South Chicago Heights, IL |
Star Lite Motel South Holland, IL |
Prairie Materials [gone] South Holland, IL |
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The Hi-Way Bakery opened in 1938. It got its name from its location on the Dixie Highway. This sign was built in 1951 at a cost of $4,900 when the bakery moved to its current location. The owner refers to the sign's chef as "Miss Hi-Way." Supposedly, the person on the sign was modeled after the original owner's daughter. In 2019, the sign's neon was restored. [map]
The Sauk Trail Car Wash sign is probably from the 1960s or 1970s. [map] The Star Lite Motel sign appears to be from the 1950s. The star on top of the sign was gone by 2021. For more, see this website. [map] I believe this Prairie Materials location had been at this location since 1975. The sign was probably from around then. This photo is from 2008. By 2011, the company had moved and this sign was gone. |
| Madison Furniture Co. Springfield, IL |
Motor Inn Parking Springfield, IL |
Saputo's Springfield, IL |
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The Madison Furniture Co. opened in 1932. This sign might be from then. The store closed in 2024 but this sign remains. [map]
The Motor Inn Parking sign is installed on a former 1920s garage. In 2012, renovations to the building began. The facade was restored and this very rusty sign was replicated by the Ace Sign Co. The sign might have been from the late 1920s or 1930s. For more, see this website. [map] Saputo's opened in 1948 as the Twins Corner Pizza House. There was a different sign there originally. This sign is probably from the 1950s. Around 2016, the sign was either restored or replicated. For more, see this website. [map] |
| Route 66 Legends Neon Park Springfield, IL |
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These replica signs were created in 2022 by the Ace Sign Co. for the Route 66 Legends Neon Park at the State Fairgrounds. The signs are lit at night.
The Chain of Rocks Motel was built in the mid-1950s in Granite City, IL. In 2006, the sign was sold to collectors. For more, see this website. The A. Lincoln Motel was built in Springfield, IL in 1947 as the A. Lincoln Tourist Court. "A. Lincoln" was how the President signed his name. In 1954, the name was changed to the A. Lincoln Motel and a new sign was built. The motel was demolished in the mid-1990s. The sign was sold off in pieces. For more, see this website. The Bel-Air Drive-in operated from 1954-1987 in Granite City, IL. In 2018, the sign was sold to a collector. For more, see this website. The Route 66 Shield is a brand new, modern sign. [map] |
| Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill Springfield, IL |
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The Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill has some vintage signs on display. Two of the most noteworthy are shown here.
The Bel Air Manor Motel was built around 1950 and was demolished in 2015. The sign was sold and is displayed here. The motel's sputnik sign is displayed at the Ace Sign Co. There are also panels from the A. Lincoln Motel and Dining Room signs. For more, see this website. [map] |
| Ace Sign Co. Springfield, IL |
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| The Ace Sign Co. was established in 1940. These photos were taken of the shop's mini sign museum in 2009. In 2012, the sign company moved and now has more room to display its collection. |
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More Springfield:
Bel Aire Motel [gone] Dellert's Paint Company Henry Nelch & Son Co. [gone] King Pin Lanes Lorial Lounge [gone] Mel-O-Cream Donuts Pioneer Motel Shamrock Court [gone] Sonrise Donuts Spillway Lanes [gone] |
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| IL (page 9) | IL (page 10) | IL (page 11) | IL (page 12) | IL (page 13) | IL (page 14) | IL (page 16) | IL (page 17) |
| Chicago (page 1) | Chicago (page 2) | Chicago (page 3) | Chicago (page 4) |
| Main Signs Page |
| RoadsideArchitecture.com |
Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc. Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com. |