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Detroit Signs

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Yellow Pages [gone]
Detroit, MI		 Hostess Cake [gone]
Detroit, MI		 Fontaine Motel
Detroit, MI
The Yellow Pages sign measured 32 feet by 48 feet and was installed on the Michigan Bell Telephone Building. The sign was installed in 1959. It had not been lit since the 1970s. While the building was being converted into housing for homeless people in 2011, the sign was found to be structurally unsound. It was offered to various museums but it was too big to find a taker. Most of the sign was scrapped but about five letters and the telephone portion were saved. The telephone was composed of translucent plastic panels and was used as a weather forecaster. At night, it would be lit red for warmer weather, blue for cooler weather, and yellow for no change. The weather phone would blink when rain or snow were expected. The phone is now in about sixty pieces. There are plans to reassemble and install them in the lobby of the building. For more, see this website.

The Hostess Cake sign was probably installed in the 1950s. It was lit until 2005 and then removed in 2008. For more, see this website.

The Fontaine Motel sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. It probably had twinkling bulbs where the fountain pattern is. The sign was originally blue and white. Around 2013, the sign was painted blue and white. Around 2015, the sign was painted beige and brown. By 2022, the sign was painted yellow and the motel was still vacant. For more, see this website. [map]

Holland Sales
& Service [gone]
Detroit, MI		 Henry the Hatter
Detroit, MI
The Holland Sales & Service sign was shaped like a tractor trailer hitch. It was probably from the 1950s. This photo is from 2011. By 2013, the sign was gone.

Henry the Hatter was founded in 1893. This store and sign have been here since 1952. The company has two other locations: in Hamtramck and Southfield. In 2017, the store moved to a new location. The sign is being restored and will be installed at the new store. [map]

Lasko's Collision
Detroit, MI		 Hotel Yorba
Detroit, MI
Lasko's Collision opened in 1953 and this sign is probably from then. [map]

The Hotel Yorba was built in 1926. These signs are probably from the 1940s and 1950s. [map]

Smith Welding Supply Co. [gone]
Detroit, MI		 Vergote's Poultry & Fish Market [gone]
Detroit, MI		 Bronx Bar
Detroit, MI
The Smith Welding Supply Co. was still open when this photo was taken in 2011. This sign was probably from the 1950s. The sign was removed around 2017.

Vergote's Poultry & Fish Market was closed but this sign was still there when this photo was taken in 2011. The sign was gone by 2013. The neon was protected on this sign with plastic and wire. The sign is not on display at Vergote's new location.

The Bronx Bar sign might be from the 1930s. This photo is from 2011. By 2016, the sign had been painted grey and white. For more, see this website. [map]

McNichol's Riviera
Motel [gone]
Detroit, MI		 Gillis Realty Co. [gone]
Detroit, MI
The McNichol's Riviera Motel was built in 1950. The sign was removed around 2018.

The Gillis Realty Co. was long gone but this sign remained in 2011 when this photo was taken. The sign was still there in 2015 but gone by 2016.

More Detroit:
Cadillac Fence & Supply Co. [gone]
Crystal House Motel
Dutch Girl Donuts [gone]
General Public Loans
Hammer & Nail
Kow Kow Chop Suey [gone]
Laikon Cafe [gone]
Palace Cleaners [map]
Park Here [gone]
Pointe Camera Shop [gone]
Roosevelt Hotel [map]
Roseland Bar & Grill
Simmons & Clark Jewelers
Swifoto
YMCA

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