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email: agilitynut@hotmail.com |
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| Illinois Signs (page 3) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Mott's Lounge Burlington, IL |
Royal Liquor Mart Rockford, IL |
Der Rathskeller Rockford, IL |
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Mott's Lounge was established in 1924. This sign is probably from the 1950s. It is lit at night. For more, see this website.
The Royal Liquor Mart sign is probably from the 1950s. The Der Rathskeller restaurant and sausage shop opened in 1931. This sign is lit at night. For more, see this website. |
| Don Carter Lanes Rockford, IL |
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| Don Carter Lanes opened in 1953 and this sign is from then. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Parthenios Luncheonette Rockford, IL |
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| The Parthenios Luncheonette opened in 1969 and closed in 2010. The signs were still there when these photos were taken in 2012. The signs were adapted from the previous tenant, the Hobson Drug Co. They appear to be from the 1940s or earlier. The neon letters on the vertical sign alternated between "Food" and "Drugs". |
| Palace Shoe Service Rockford, IL |
North Main Tavern Rockford, IL |
Wayne's Feed Store Rockford, IL |
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The Palace Shoe Service sign features an animated, hammering cobbler and a variety of shoe styles. While the store is still open, I don't think this sign is lit anymore. I believe Palace Shoe Service opened in the 1950s.
The North Main Tavern opened in 1934. This sign might be from then. This photo is from 2012. In 2013, the bar announced that it was moving. The city will be demolishing the building to make room for a two-lane roundabout. I don't know what will happen with this sign. The Wayne's Feed Store freestanding sign cleverly features a leaking bucket that spells out what's for sale inside. This sign has been stripped of its original neon and painted many times over the years. I've been told that that neon "spillage" was originally animated. For more, see this website. |
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More Rockford Signs:
Drive-in Liquor Store (Rockford) [gone?] |
| Moose Lodge Harvard, IL |
Windy's Tavern [gone] Harvard, IL |
Big Foot Inn Harvard, IL |
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This Moose Lodge sign is probably from the 1950s.
The Windy's Tavern sign was probably from the 1950s. This photo is from 2006. By 2012, the bar and sign were gone. The Big Foot Inn sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. |
| House of Bottles Loves Park, IL |
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| House of Bottles Belvidere, IL |
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| The House of Bottles pole sign in Loves Park probably had the same neon popping cork like the sign in Belvidere. The Marengo location may have had a sign like these, too. There is a plastic sign there now. There may have been other locations. I believe these are the only two locations with neon signs. |
| Wolf Chevrolet Belvidere, IL |
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| Wolf Chevrolet was established in 1924. This huge neon sign is lit at night. In 2010, Wolf Chevrolet became Wolf Automotive. The Chevrolet portion of the sign was removed and replaced with a non-neon panel reading "Automotive". There are still a couple of Chevrolet OK Used Car signs on the lot. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Lantern Pub Ashley, IL |
Parkview Motel Ashley, IL |
Metro Bowl Crystal Lake, IL |
Northgate Shopping Center Aurora, IL |
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The Lantern Pub's neon "EAT" sign appears to be from the 1930s. The bulb arrow is probably from the 1950s. These bulb arrow signs were mass-produced and there are still lots of them around the country.
The Parkview Motel is probably from the 1940s. The Metro Bowl opened in 1956. The name came from the original owner, William G. Metropulos. This Northgate Shopping Center sign was built in 1956. The sign is landmarked by the City and is still lit at night. For more, see this website. |
| Seven Dwarfs Family Restaurant Wheaton, IL |
Malloy's Sav-way Liquors Wheaton, IL |
Highland Manor Motel Lombard, IL |
Lombard Pines Shopping Center Lombard, IL |
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The Seven Dwarfs Family Restaurant sign was built in 1951. This photo is from 2006. In 2010, the sign was repainted and the bulbs were removed. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
Malloy's Sav-way Liquors opened around 1938. This sign is probably from the 1950s. This store might have been part of the Sav-way Liquors chain which has other locations in Illinois. I don't think any of the other Sav-way stores have signs like this. The first photo above is from 2006. This sign was repainted in 2008. The Sav-Way panel has been painted over. The store is now known as Malloy's Liquors. The second photo is from 2012. For more, see this website. The Highland Manor Motel has been here since at least the early 1960s. The Lombard Pines Shopping Center sign looks like it was built in the 1960s. |
| Stan the Tire Man Mount Vernon, IL |
J's Peter Pan Cleaners Villa Park, IL |
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Stan the Tire Man opened in 1951. This sign was probably built then.
It looks like the "J's" of J's Peter Pan Cleaners was tacked on later. |
| Ferrara Pan Candy Co. Forest Park, IL |
Zimmerman Ford St. Charles, IL |
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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. It is lit at night. For more, see this website.
Zimmerman Ford was established in 1931. The dealership's sign was built in 1964. It was originally installed on a revolving base. The Ford sign is located behind the dealership. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Young's Appliances Glen Ellyn, IL |
Mack's Golden Pheasant Elmhurst, IL |
Steven's Steak House [gone] Elmhurst, IL |
Pines Lobster & Steak House Forest Park, IL |
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Young's Appliances opened in 1931 as Young's Home Utilities. This sign was built in 1966 when the business changed its name to Young's Appliances. The "GE Frigidaire" part of the sign revolved originally.
Mack's Golden Pheasant opened in 1948. This sign may be from then. It is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. Steven's Steak House opened in 1958. It closed around 2006 and the sign was removed in 2011. The Pines Lobster & Steak House sign appears to be from the 1950s. For more, see this website. |
| Oak Leaf Lounge Forest Park, IL |
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| The Oak Leaf Lounge was originally the Oak Leaf Laundry and Cleaners. The text for the laundry was removed in the 1950s when the place reopened as the Oak Leaf Lounge. |
| Bel-Air Bowl Belleville, IL |
Terrace Motel Belleville, IL |
Hoeffken Cleaners [gone] Belleville, IL |
Brite Way Cleaners Belleville, IL |
Harter's Hobby House Belleville, IL |
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The Bel-Air Bowl was previously known as the Panorama Lanes. The name was changed and sign adapted in 2007. The original sign was probably from the 1950s. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
The Terrace Motel sign appears to be from the 1950s. The beige portion of the sign was a later addition. This photo is from 2010. In 2011, the sign was badly damaged when it was apparently either knocked over or fell. It has since been repaired. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. This photo of the Hoeffken Cleaners sign was taken in 2005. The building has since been demolished and the sign is gone. Brite Way Cleaners was established in 1945. This sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. This Harter's Hobby House sign was replaced with a plastic box sign shortly afer this photo was taken in 2005. For more, see this website. |
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