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Missouri Signs (page 7)

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Shamrock Court
Sullivan, MO		 Hy-Vee
Tarkio, MO
The Shamrock Court was built around 1947. In the early 1970s, the motel rooms became apartments. In 2021, restoration of the buildings began. The motel is expected to reopen in 2025. This replica of the original sign was built and installed in 2022. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

This Hy-Vee grocery store opened here by 1953. This sign might be from around then. The background was originally painted blue. There is another sign like this in Leon, IA. There was another in Unionwille, MO. [map]

Thayer:
Ray-Noble Liquor [map]

5 & 50 Drive-in
Tipton, MO		 Chevrolet and Buick signs
Tipton, MO
The 5 & 50 Drive-in has been here since at least the 1960s. For more, see this website. [map]

These Chevrolet and Buick signs are installed at the Hainen used car dealership. This was previously the Hainen Chevrolet and Buick dealership. The signs are protected by plexiglass. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer
Union, MO
These Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer signs were mass-produced, probably in the 1950s. This one is installed at Elmer's Tavern. [map]

Budweiser
Valley Park, MO
This Budweiser sign is installed at Meramec Jack's. These signs were mass-produced and are probably from the 1950s. There are other examples in St. Louis and below in Washington. [map]

Sunset Motel
Villa Ridge, MO
2010: 2024:
The Sunset Motel opened in 1946. The sign is probably from then. The motel sign and entrance signs were restored in 2009. They had not been lit since the 1970s. By 2014, plexiglass panels had been added over the sign panels to protect the neon. The motel rooms are used for apartments now. For more, see this website. [map]

Gardenway Motel [gone]
Villa Ridge, MO

Diamond Inn Motel, Diamonds Restaurant & Gardenway Motel
Villa Ridge, MO
2010: 2024:
The Gardenway Motel opened in 1945 and the pole sign might have been from then. The name came from this portion of Route 66 which was previously known as the Henry Shaw Gardenway. The letters on the roof were added in 1960. The motel had been closed since 2014. By 2018, a few of the letters on the roof had fallen over and were damaged. By 2019, the pole sign's glass block had been vandalized and broken. Its sign panels were removed and put in storage. In 2021, the yellow letters on the roof were removed. In 2023, the motel was demolished. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

The original Diamonds Restaurant was built in 1927. After a fire in 1948, the restaurant was rebuilt in 1948. The building still stands but has been vacant since 2006.

The Diamond Inn Motel was later a Travelodge. It was demolished in 2023.

The sign above on the lower left which was just off the interstate has been turned into a billboard for the Shaw Nature Reserve. The sign on the lower right advertised for both motels. In 2013, the Diamonds Restaurant letters were removed. It still has the arrow and Gardenway Motel letters. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Lake Hills Motel
Warsaw, MO
2010: 2024:
The Lake Hills Motel was built in 1940. This sign is probably from the the 1950s. [map]

Old Dutch Hotel
Washington, MO		 Bank of Washington
Washington, MO		 Western Auto
Associate Store [gone]
Washington, MO		 Parmentier Auto Body
Washington, MO
The Old Dutch Hotel was established in the early 1930s and operated until the late 1970s. After opening and closing several times with different owners, the Old Dutch closed for good in the early 1990s. After completely renovating the building in 2010, new owners have revived both the hotel, tavern, and sign. Nearly $5,000 was spent on the restoration of the sign which is believed to be the original. At first, the six-foot-tall sign read "Old Dutch Tavern". The lettering was later changed to "Old Dutch Hotel", possibly when a third floor was added to the building. The sign is lit in the original red, white and blue color scheme. The blades of the windmill are lit sequentially to create a spinning effect. This photo is from 2010, before the restoration. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

This Bank of Washington sign was originally attached to a building. When a new bank building was constructed, this sign was saved. Around 2009, the sign was restored and installed in the parking lot nearby. For more, see this website. [map]

These Western Auto Associate Store signs were mass-produced and there are still a number of them around the country. This sign was gone by 2018. Many of these stores are still in business. Western Auto, an auto parts company, was established in Kansas City, MO in 1909. The company opened its first store in 1921. Western Auto grew to more than 1,200 company-owned stores and 4,000 associate stores. For more, see this website.

Parmentier Auto Body was established in 1939. This neon car on top of the plastic box sign was built around 2003. [map]

Bleckman
Machine and Supply Co.
Washington, MO		 Budweiser
Washington, MO
The Bleckman Machine and Supply Co. was established in 1834 as a blacksmith shop and plow maker. It is now a machinery supply and repair shop. This sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. [map]

The Budweiser sign is installed at the Sand Bar. It was probably built in the 1950s. [map]

Cowan's Restaurant
Washington, MO		 Miller Press
Washington, MO
Cowan's Restaurant opened in 1930 as the Mealer's Restaurant. In 1972, it became the Elm's Cafe. It has been Cowan's since 1973. This sign with the meringue-topped, mile-high pie was built around 2004. [map]

The Miller Press building now houses Darling Graphix but the sign remains. It is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. [map]

Webb City Florist
Webb City, MO		 Webster Record Shop [gone]
Webster Groves, MO
The Webb City Florist sign was built in 1953 when the Ferree Florist changed its name. In 2023, the sign was restored. For more, see this website. [map]

The Webster Record Shop opened around 1949 and this sign was built then. When the store moved, this sign was brought along. The store closed in 2012. The sign, now owned by a private collector, was put on display inside the Purple Cow Antiques store in St. Louis. However, that store has closed and I don't know where the sign is now. For more, see this website.

Sky Bank [gone]
Wellston, MO		 Sebus Brothers Hardware
Weston, MO		 Windsor Furniture Co.
Windsor, MO
The Sky Bank rooftop sign tower was erected in the late 1940s. In the early 1950s, it became the State Bank. The tower's sign bears both names. The text part of the sign originally revolved. It also had a weather beacon on top. Later, the building housed a Regions Bank but the sign was not altered. The building became vacant around 2006 when the Regions Bank relocated nearby. In 2014, the building was demolished but the sign was salvaged by a private collector. It is now in storage at the St. Louis Building Arts Foundation in Sauget, IL. The sign may be restored and repurposed. For more, see this website.

The Sebus Brothers Hardware store was established in 1947. These Hotpoint signs were mass-produced. There are only a few others of this type that I know of. [map]

The Windsor Furniture Co. was established in 1937 and is still operating. This mass-produced, GE Appliances privilege sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

Willow Springs:
Hillbilly Junction [gone]

More Missouri:
Rexall Drug Stores (various cities)

MO (page 1) MO (page 2) MO (page 3) MO (page 4) MO (page 5) MO (page 6) Kansas City St. Louis
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