email: roadarch@outlook.com

Illinois Signs (page 6)

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Elms Restaurant
El Paso, IL		 Bennison's Bakery
Evanston, IL
The Elms Restaurant was established in 1946. It closed in 2003 and the building has been vacant since then but this sign remains. It originally read "The Elms Motel" on top with "Dining Room" below the arrow and "Air Conditioned" below that. For more, see this website. [map]

Bennison's Bakery has been here since 1938. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

More Evanston:
Scot Cleaners

Garden Cleaners [gone]
Evergreen Park, IL		 Naples Bakery
Evergreen Park, IL		 Wolf's Bakery
Evergreen Park, IL
The Garden Cleaners is still around but this sign is not. The sign was most likely built in the 1950s. In 2009, it fell from its pole during a windstorm and was destroyed. For more, see this website.

The Naples Bakery was established in 1918. The facade and sign appear to be from the 1950s. The bakery closed in 2016. The sign was removed in 2017. Barraco's restaurant expanded into the space. In 2018, a replica of the Naples Bakery sign was reinstalled on the building. A graphic display panel has replaced the readerboard. For more, see this website. [map]

Wolf's Bakery opened in 1935. When new owners took over in 1999, they had the sign repainted to its original colors. Wolf's had another location at one time. For more, see this website. [map]

American Legion
Fairfield, IL		 Elks Lodge
Fairfield, IL		 Red & White
Fairfield, IL		 Kincaid's
Fairfield, IL
The American Legion sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

This Elks Lodge sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

This Red & White grocery store chain was established around 1925. This store has been closed since 2008 but this sign remains. It is probably from the 1960s. [map]

Kincaid's, a hardware and home improvement store, was founded in 1918. It became part of the Do It Best chain in 2005. This sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. [map]

Nite Spot Cafe
Fairmont City, IL
The Nite Spot Cafe opened in 1933 in a smaller building. This sign is from the 1960s. The building has been vacant since 1984. [map]

former Bert's Chuck Wagon
Fairview Heights, IL		 Trailway Motel
Fairview Heights, IL
This Bert's Chuck Wagon was part of a chain with about 15 locations in Southern Illinois. The first location from 1963 in Collinsville had a similar sign. This Fairview Heights location was built in 1971 and never used the name "Bert's" for its business or sign. This sign originally had neon in addition to the chasing bulb wheels. The business is now known as The Chuck Wagon Mexican Food. [map]

The Trailway Motel was here by 1962 and the sign was presumably built at the same time. The arrow was originally painted blue and read "Restaurant." The backlit plastic "Motel" letters more than likely originally were neon. The star which now has LED tubes must have neon as well. For more, see this website. [map]

More Fairview Heights:
French Village Motel [gone]

Ging
Farina, IL
This Ging & Co. grain and seed company sign is installed on a grain elevator building. This sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. [map]

Art's Motel [gone]
Farmersville, IL
2009: 2024:
This Art's Motel sign was completely rusted in 2006. The viewable, south side of the sign was repainted in 2007 by the Route 66 Association of Illinois. In 2018, the sign was removed. One of the panels was saved and is now displayed inside the Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill in Springfield, IL. For more, see this website.

Odd Fellows Temple
Flora, IL		 Masonic Lodge
Flora, IL
This Odd Fellows Temple sign was probably built in the 1940s or 1950s. [map]

This small Masonic Lodge sign looks like it might have been cut from the top of a larger sign. [map]

American Legion
Flora, IL		 Flora Motel
Flora, IL
This American Legion sign was most likely double-sided and projected out from the building. [map]

The Flora Motel was built in 1949 and this sign might have been installed then. These panels were originally part of a larger sign. At some point, the larger pylon part of the sign was removed and these panels were installed on a pole by themselves. The panels have been covered with plexiglass since at least 2009 to protect the neon tubing. [map]

Oak Leaf Lounge [gone]
Forest Park, IL
The Oak Leaf Lounge building originally housed the Oak Leaf Laundry and Cleaners and this sign was built for that business. The text for "Launderers" and "Cleaners" was removed in the 1950s when the place reopened as the Oak Leaf Lounge. In 2022, the building was demolished and the Park District of Forest Park kept the sign. There are plans to display the sign inside the new building on the site when it is built.

Ferrara Pan Candy Co.
Forest Park, IL		 Pines Lobster
& Steak House [gone]
Forest Park, IL
The Ferrara Pan Candy Co. was founded in 1908. It is still in business as the Ferrara Candy Company. This sign might be from the 1950s. [map]

The Pines Lobster & Steak House sign appeared to be from the 1950s. This photo is from 2012. The sign was still there in 2015 but gone by 2016. It is now in a private collection. For more, see this website.

Franklin Park:
Smithereen Exterminators [gone]

IL (page 1) IL (page 2) IL (page 3) IL (page 4) IL (page 5) IL (page 7) IL (page 8)
IL (page 9) IL (page 10) IL (page 11) IL (page 12) IL (page 13) IL (page 14) IL (page 15) IL (page 16) IL (page 17)
Chicago (page 1) Chicago (page 2) Chicago (page 3) Chicago (page 4)

Main Signs Page