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Massachusetts Signs (page 1)

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Blanchard's
Liquors
Allston, MA		 Chieftain Liquors
Auburn, MA		 Bellingham Auto Sales [gone]
Bellingham, MA
The Blanchard's Liquors sign appears to be from the 1950s. There were at least six other locations in the Boston area. For more, see this website. [map]

This Chieftain Liquors sign was refurbished around 2010. This photo is from 2011. By 2017, "Bottled" had been replaced with "Chieftain." All of the sign's neon letters had been replaced with backlit plastic. [map]

Bellingham Auto Sales had been here since 1946. It began selling Hudson automobiles in 1948. This Hudson sign was probably installed then. By 2023, the property was being developed for an office building. This building and sign were gone. There are some similar Hudson signs in Detroit, MI and Ypsilanti, MI. There was one in Brunswick, IN that has been removed.

More Allston:
Brookline Liquor Mart [gone]

Athol:
Plotkin Furniture

China Jade Restaurant
Beverly, MA		 Modern Pastry
Boston, MA		 CITGO
Boston, MA
The China Jade Restaurant rooftop sign originally advertised for the Chinaland Restaurant. It was probably built in the 1950s. When the restaurant moved down the street, the sign was reworked for the new name. For more, see this website. [map]

Modern Pastry opened in 1930. The shop is best known for its cannolis, torrone, and other Italian pastries. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

This CITGO sign replaced a Cities Service sign from 1940. When the company changed its name to CITGO in 1965, this sign was built. It is the largest sign in New England measuring 60 feet by 60 feet. It features animated red, white and blue neon. When CITGO decided to dismantle the deteriorating sign in 1983, Boston residents protested. The sign was saved and restored. In 2005, the neon was replaced with LED lighting. Around 2021, a building was built next door to the one supporting this sign, making it very difficult to see. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

More Beverly:
ChrisPy's Liquors

Cantina Italiana
Boston, MA		 Bakey's [gone]
Boston, MA
The Cantina Italiana opened here in 1931 and is the oldest restaurant in Boston's North End. This photo is from 2011. By 2016, the neon bottle and glass were replaced with backlit plastic panels. The neon at the bottom of the sign is also gone now. I believe this sign was the model for Buca di Beppo restaurants. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Bakey's featured a modern sign. The restaurant owner's father once fell asleep on his wife's ironing board after having a few beers. There was a speaker on the wall which produces snoring sounds. This photo is from 2007. The restaurant closed in 2011 and this sign was gone by 2013.

M. Steinert & Sons
Boston, MA		 The Tam
Boston, MA
M. Steinert & Sons was established in 1860. The company has been at this location since 1896. This sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. [map]

This pair of signs at The Tam is probably from the 1950s or earlier. The panels were made by Kirn Signs. While these Budweiser signs are somewhat common, especially in St. Louis, I have never seen a Michelob sign of this design. This photo is from 2011. Around 2016, these panels were replaced. They have green LED strips where the original sign's painted details were. [map]

More Boston:
American Airlines
Green Cross Pharmacy
Berkeley Building Weather Beacon [map]
China Pearl [map]
Ida's Italian Cuisine [map]
Model Cafe
Pine Bar
Pleasant Cafe
Regina Pizza
Twin Donuts

Logan Express
Braintree, MA
The Logan Express sign is a reworked sign from the former South Shore Plaza Twin Drive-in. The first photo is from 2004, the second photo from 2011. This sign was built in the 1950s or 1960s. The drive-in closed in 1986. The Logan Express is a shuttle bus service to Boston's Logan International Airport. [map]

Chico's Sunoco
Cambridge, MA		 Sozio [gone]
Cambridge, MA		 Colonial Drug [gone]
Cambridge, MA
Chico's Sunoco has a nothing-special modern looking station and canopy but a nice old huge vertical sign which looks 1960s to me. It has a similar style to the Mobil sign in Biddeford, ME. [map]

Sozio sold dining furniture and appliances. I believe this location closed around 2019. The signs are gone now.

Colonial Drug was established in 1947. These photos are from 2009 and 2010. In 2013, the store moved to Newton, MA and the sign was removed. For more, see this website.

Dana Hill Liquor Mart
Cambridge, MA		 Coolidge Cleansers
Cambridge, MA
The Dana Hill Liquor Mart sign is probably from the 1950s. It was repainted around 2006. This photo is from 2007. In 2023, the sign was completely restored by Neon Williams and Barlo Signs. The chasing bulbs are operational and the neon is lit in white. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Coolidge Cleansers is now known as "Coolidge Looking Good". This photo is from 2007. The sign was repainted around 2009. [map]

More Cambridge:
Hong Kong Restaurant [map]
Shell

Safety Shoes
Charlestown, MA		 Safety Shoes
Charlestown, MA
These Safety Shoes signs are located near the Charlestown Navy Yard. Does anyone know the story behind them? [map]

Anton's Cleaners
Chelmsford, MA		 Skip's Restaurant [gone]
Chelmsford, MA
Anton's Cleaners has about 35 locations in Massachusetts. This sign is probably from the 1950s. The "Launderers" letters were removed around 2015. The only other vintage Anton's sign that I know of was in Lowell, MA until around 2016. [map]

Skip's Restaurant opened as Kidd's Diner in 1930. Around 1947, the name was changed and this replacement sign was installed. The sign is gorgeous - day or night. Skip's had a great homemade ice cream stand next door with a giant milk bottle on the roof. The restaurant closed in 2008 to make way for a strip mall. This sign is now in a private collection.

Care Cleaners
Chelmsford, MA
These rooftop letters at Care Cleaners are probably from the 1950s or 1960s. In 2023, they were laying flat on the roof. I don't know if they will be uprighted. This location also had a neon pole sign that was removed around 2008. For more, see this website. [map]

More Chelmsford:
Hong & Kong Restaurant [map]

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