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email: agilitynut@hotmail.com |
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| Maine Signs |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Hawkes Plaza sign Westbrook, ME |
J&J Cleaners sign Brunswick, ME |
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The Hawkes Plaza sign was built in 1962. It features a radio and TV serviceman. The original sign had moving arms and 385 lightbulbs and fluorescent lighting which moved in a circular pattern. It created the illusion that the man was walking. The sign became too expensive to repair and the service store closed. The sign was restored and repainted in 2000 but zoning laws prevent the use of animated lighting.
The J&J Cleaners sign is part of the extended store canopy. These canopies were a common phenomenon with dry cleaners. As of 2005, I understand the building has been painted white but the sign is intact. [info thanks Roy Fredrickson] |
| Drake's Island Motel Wells, ME |
Rocky Ridge Motel Stockton Springs, ME |
Warren's Lobster House Kittery, ME |
Alex's Pizza Biddeford, ME |
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The Drake's Island Motel features an old pole sign and this one on the roof. I don't believe this place is used as a motel any longer. For more, see their website.
The Rocky Ridge Motel sign appears to have been refurbished and repainted recently. Does anyone know if this was the original name? Warren's Lobster House opened in 1940 as a six-stool seafood stand. They are now a huge operation and offer mail order and boat-docking for customers arriving by water. For more, see their website. Alex's Pizza (aka Pizza by Alex) also opened in 1940. Their pizza gets rave reviews. |
| Dairy Maid Lisbon Falls, ME |
Broadway Coffee Shop & Dairy Freeze Bangor, ME |
Partners Sanford, ME |
Goldenrod York Beach, ME |
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The Dairy Maid is an old ice cream stand. This sign is outlined with neon. For more, see this website.
The Broadway Coffee Shop & Dairy Freeze features this rather greenish plastic cone on their roof. The Partners food stand features another greenish plastic cone. I assume the yellow has faded to green in the sun. There may have been another business here before Partners since they opened in 1986 and this sign appears older than that. I'm not positive this location is Sanford. It was north of town and might have been Springvale. The Goldenrod is a candy store, ice cream shop and restaurant which has been around since 1896. Goldenrod Kisses refers to their salt water taffy which is made on the premises. These signs are lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Key Real Estate Shapleigh, ME |
Starlite Motel Old Orchard Beach, ME |
Love Barn Orland, ME |
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Key Real Estate was established in the early 1930s. In 1970, they moved to this location. I assume this sign is from then.
The Starlite Motel sign originally had a diving woman piece above the plastic box. The stars at the bottom of the sign were once neon that blinked on and off. For more, see their website. The Love Barn sells quite a few great gas station and other signs. They specialize in reconditioned antique stoves. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Coffee Pot Bangor, ME |
Rotary Cleaners Augusta, ME |
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The Coffee Pot is famous for their sandwiches ("Italians"). I can't tell whether the sign is new or very well-preserved.
The Rotary Cleaners gets its name from the fact that it is on a rotary (traffic circle). It has some great signage and nice plate glass windows. |
| Sardine Man Prospect Harbor, ME |
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| The Sardine Man (aka Big Jim the Fisherman and the Stinson Man) is a 22' tall metal sign. Another source says he is 40-50' tall - which sounds closer to me. He was originally located at an entrance to the Maine Turnpike, where he was painted on both sides and made of wood. When a storm severely damaged the wooden sign, it was replaced with this metal one. By the early 1980s, he was destined to be torn down but was moved to the entrance to the Stinson Seafood plant and repainted. Stinson was the cannery for Beach Cliff sardines and they are the last herring cannery in the U.S. The plant has changed hands several times but the sign is still well maintained. For more, see this website. |
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More ME Signs:
Wild Blueberry Land (Columbia Falls) Welcome sign (Lubec) Dairy Queen Little Miss (Saco & Sanford) |
| Main Signs Page |
| RoadsideArchitecture.com |