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| MASSACHUSETTS (page 1) |
| Paul Revere sign New Bedford, MA |
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| The Paul Revere sign is a 25’ x 44’ copper sign with five colors. It has 200 neon pieces that make the horse's legs gallop and over 1,000' of neon tubing in its 126 sections. It was previously on Route 6 on the roof of the Revere Copper Products Company (founded by Paul Revere). The sign was built in 1948 and deteriorated over the years. The neon was disconnected in the 1970s and the sign was taken down in 1994. The sign was saved by WHALE (Waterfront Historic Area League) who started fundraising for renovation in 1997. It cost between $50,000 and $100,000 to restore. In 1998, the sign was put up along I-195 and relit with a 50' electronic message board below. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Mark You Restaurant Fall River, MA |
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| The Mark You Restaurant features a huge, neon dragon sign and a glass block façade. [middle photo thanks DinerFan] |
| Roderick Plumbing & Heating Fall River, MA |
Chico's Sunoco Cambridge, MA |
Sozio Cambridge, MA |
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The Roderick Plumbing & Heating sign could use some fixing up. It appears this was once a neon sign with dripping faucet.
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. Sozio sells dining furniture for "fabulous fifties casual dining". They are also known as "Sozio's Major Appliances & TV." They have three other locations and have been in business since 1959. It appears that Sozio is the original occupant of this great, glass-fronted showroom (the signage suggests so and locals refer to the traffic circle as the "Sozio Rotary"). For more, see their website. |
| Dana Hill Liquor Mart Cambridge, MA |
Coolidge Cleansers Cambridge, MA |
Shell sign Cambridge, MA |
CITGO sign Boston, MA |
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The Dana Hill Liquor Mart is a mid-century hanger-on on this busy main artery in Cambridge (Massachusetts Ave.). Its survival is miraculous considering all the other new stores surrounding it. For more, see this website. There is a similar name and style of sign (though without the holes) in Allston, MA so this might have been part of a chain.
Coolidge Cleansers is now known as "Coolidge Looking Good". The Shell sign was constructed in 1933. It was moved to this location in 1944. It is 68' high and features animated neon. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and still resides at a Shell gas station. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. The 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' by 60' and features animated red, white and blue neon. When CITGO decided to dismantle the deteriorating sign in 1983, the people of Boston came to its rescue. It was restored and declared a landmark. In 2005, the neon was replaced with LED lighting. In 2006, there is talk of removing the sign but that seems unlikely. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Cantina Italiana Boston, MA |
Modern Pastry Boston, MA |
Bakey's Boston, MA |
Green Cross Pharmacy Boston, MA |
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Cantina Italiana opened here in 1931 and is the oldest restaurant in Boston's North End. I believe this sign was the model for Buca di Beppo restaurants. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
Modern Pastry has been here since the 1930s. The shop is best known for its cannolis, torrone, and other Italian pastries. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. Bakey's features an interesting modern sign. The restaurant owner's father once fell asleep on his wife's ironing board after having a few beers. There is a speaker on the wall which produces snoring sounds. For more, see this website. The Green Cross Pharmacy mortar and pestle sign was probably inspired by the Steaming Kettle sign also in Boston. For more, see their website. |
| Safety Shoes Boston, MA |
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| This Safety Shoes sign faces the harbor at the Navy Yard's Constitution Wharf. I'd love to know about this sign's history. For more, see this website. There is another Safety Shoes sign in Boston. |
| Donut Dip West Springfield, MA |
Galley Restaurant West Springfield, MA |
Russell's Family Restaurant Springfield, MA |
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The Donut Dip opened in 1957. Its building, interior and signage all appear to be original. This place is a rare survivor on this strip of chain stores and hotels.
The Galley Restaurant is just north of the Donut Dip and features this nice old sign. As of 2005, Russell's Family Restaurant is vacant. Anybody know anything about the place? [photo credit DinerFan] |
| former Jolly Cholly's North Attleboro, MA |
Logan Express Braintree, MA |
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The Jolly Cholly's sign was from Jolly Cholly's drive-in hamburger stand. Behind it, barely visible in this photo, is another rusting sign with the partial wording of "Miniature Golf". These were both part of Jolly Cholly's Funland, a wonderful amusement park that was torn down in 1981. I believe it opened in the 1950s. There is now just a vacant lot with some condos at the site. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Logan Express sign is a reworked marquee sign from the former South Shore Plaza Twin. This drive-in closed in 1980 and one screen is left, rusting but still standing (visible in the photo above, to the left of the former snack bar). The snack bar has been converted into a bus terminal and the parking lot, now a grassy lot, is used as a golf driving range. The Logan Express is a shuttle bus to Boston's Logan International Airport. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| New England Motor Court Malden, MA |
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| The New England Motor Court features a nice big sign as well as apparently original mid-century motel design. |
| Care Cleaners Chelmsford, MA |
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| Care Cleaners features a huge rooftop neon sign and an interior that mixes original and retro elements. It had a nice freestanding sign at one time, too. Care has another location in Chelmsford but with smaller signage (though still neon). |
| Anton's Cleaners Chelmsford, MA |
Town & Country Cleaners Wareham, MA |
Jug Shop Wareham, MA |
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Anton's Cleaners has less dramatic signage than its competitor shown above but the neon is still wonderful and original especially at night. Anton's has about 35 locations in MA. For more, see their website.
Town & Country Cleaners is a survivor, for now, with nice signage and a recessed storefront. The Jug Shop sign advertises for a liquor store. |
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