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email: agilitynut@hotmail.com |
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| Illinois Signs (page 5) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Fox Home Center Alsip, IL |
D-Lux Budget Motel Alsip, IL |
Colony Motel Brookfield, IL |
House of Doors Brookfield, IL |
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The Fox Home Center opened here in 1962. In 2007, the store was devastated by fire. The sign was not harmed and the store was rebuilt.
The D-Lux Budget Motel sign is probably from the 1950s. This was originally known as the Pink Cloud Motel and the lettering was changed at some point. This motel was scheduled for demolition in 2008 but, as of 2009, it is still there. For more, see this website. The Colony Motel opened in 1957. The sign is well-maintained and lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. The House of Doors opened in the 1950s. |
| Chicago Clock Co. Clarendon Hills, IL |
Bennison's Bakery Evanston, IL |
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The Chicago Clock Co. has been around since 1917. For more, see their website.
Bennison's Bakery has been here since 1938. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Sabre Room Hickory Hills, IL |
Midwest Hardware & Paint Supply [gone] Burbank, IL |
Mattson's Steak House Burbank, IL |
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The Sabre Room was established on the site of a former spa in the late 1940s. It features a banquet hall and ballroom which are used for concerts and other forms of entertainment as well as private parties and weddings. For more, see their website.
This Midwest Hardware & Paint Supply sign was probably from the 1950s. The store closed in 2011 and the sign was sold to a private collector. Mattson's Steak House was originally the Bonanza Steak House, from 1969-1984. This animated, neon sign was installed by Mattson's in 1985. The lariat moves in two parts while the horse's legs move in three parts. For more, see this website. |
| Reichman Jewelers Oak Lawn, IL |
Sawa's Old Warsaw Restaurant Broadview, IL |
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Reichman Jewelers has been around since 1908. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
Sawa's Old Warsaw Restaurant opened here in 1973. I believe both signs are lit at night. |
| Hotel Harwal Danville, IL |
Millikin Dry Cleaners Danville, IL |
Little Nugget Steakhouse Danville, IL |
Rantoul Motel Rantoul, IL |
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The Hotel Harwal sign is probably from the 1920s or 1930s.
Millikin Dry Cleaners was established in 1919 and is still in business. This sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s and is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. The Little Nugget Steakhouse sign is not much to look at during the day. However, at night, it comes alive with an animated prospector raising and lowering a giant gold nugget. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. The Rantoul Motel sign is still lit at night. |
| Litchfield Hardware Rantoul, IL |
Furniture World Rantoul, IL |
Beacon Restaurant [gone] Rochelle, IL |
Masonic Temple Tuscola, IL |
Masonic Temple Atwood, IL |
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Litchfield Hardware is long gone but the sign still remains. For more, see this website.
Furniture World opened in the 1950s. Does anyone know what's behind the part of the sign that's covered up? The Beacon Restaurant featured this lighthouse-shaped sign. The neon was removed at some point. By 2010, the building housed the New China Buffet restaurant. The sign was replaced with a plastic box sign. These Masonic Temple signs were both built by the Superior Neon Company. Does anyone know of any others like these? "A.F. & A.M." refers to Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. |
| Cooper Motel Tuscola, IL |
Pines Shopping Center Decatur, IL |
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The Cooper Motel sign is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
These photos of the Pines Shopping Center signs are from 2009. By 2010, the main sign was replaced with a new SAV-A-LOT sign. The entrance and exit signs still remain. They are probably from the 1950s. |
| Pla-Mor Lanes Decatur, IL |
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| I don't believe these Pla-Mor Lanes signs are lit anymore. |
| Sandy's Motel Decatur, IL |
Soy City Motel Decatur, IL |
Del's Popcorn Shop Decatur, IL |
Raupp's Shoes Decatur, IL |
Rigdon Auto Glass Decatur, IL |
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The Sandy's Motel sign appears to be from the 1950s. I don't know if it is lit at night.
The Soy City Motel name is a reference to Decatur's nickname and claim to be the Soybean Capital of the World. The sign is lit at night. For more, see this website. Del's Popcorn Shop sign is well-maintained and lit at night. The store opened in 1934 as The Popcorn Shop. In 1946, the name was changed to Del's Popcorn Shop. I assume this sign was built at that time. Another location opened in Springfield, IL in 1980. For more, see this website. Raupp's Shoes opened here in 1909. This sign, probably from the 1940s or 1950s, is still lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. The Rigdon Auto Glass sign combines plastic and neon. [photo thanks Wes Worsham] |
| Ramada Inn [now in private collection] Effingham, IL 2010: |
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| This Ramada Inn sign originally looked like this. These signs were used nationwide. Sometimes referred to as the Bugler or the Butler, the bald innkeeper known as "Uncle Ben" appeared on the chain's signs from 1954 until around 1976. Early signs depict him wearing an apron. In 1961, he began wearing a suit and top hat. This motel was built in 1963. Around 2004, when the name was changed to Keller's Inn, the sign was adapted. The text was changed but the rest of the sign, including Uncle Ben, remained the same. Around 2007, the sign was removed and piled up in the parking lot. In 2010, the sign was sold to a private collector in Owensville, MO. The sign has been partially reassembled. The arm with the bugle will be added and the neon may be restored. This is believed to be the last Uncle Ben sign in existence. There was originally a smaller Uncle Ben sign at this location. That sign hit by a truck and destroyed. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. |
| Effingham Motel Effingham, IL |
Green Lantern Restaurant [gone] Effingham, IL |
Tom's Place Lemont, IL |
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The Effingham Motel sign appears to be from the 1950s. It is lit at night. For more, see this website.
The Green Lantern Restaurant was destroyed by fire in 2007. This photo is from 2005. The sign was removed in 2011. It will be restored and sold. For more, see this website. Tom's Place opened in 1924. These mass-produced Blatz Beer signs are much more common in Wisconsin. This page shows some examples in Milwaukee. |
| Carmi Times Carmi, IL |
First Federal Savings & Loan [gone] Harrisburg, IL |
Herrin Bowl Herrin, IL |
Park Avenue Motel Herrin, IL |
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The Carmi Times was established in 1950 and this sign was probably erected at the same time. For more, see their website.
The First Federal Savings & Loan sign remained in 2006 although their building was housing an insurance company. By 2010, this sign was gone. The Herrin Bowl and sign are from 1959. In 2002, the building was lost to a fire and was rebuilt. It reopened in 2003. For more, see their website. The Park Avenue Motel is not nearly as classy as this sign. |
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