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email: roadarch@outlook.com |
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| Illinois Signs (page 11) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Lowry Farm Pittsfield, IL |
Green Acres Motel Pittsfield, IL |
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Lowry Farm was owned by Mariam and Ed Lowry who operated a horse and pony farm at this site. The sign might be from the 1950s or 1960s. The neon horse's legs were apparently animated. The sign was repainted and the neon restored around 2021. [map]
The Green Acres Motel was built in 1956. This sign must have been installed then. The current sign shown above is probably from the 1960s. The star on top was apparently inspired by the Holiday Inn sign which was developed in 1952. The sign was repainted around 2012. For more, see this website. [map] |
| Cardinal Inn Cafe Pittsfield, IL |
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| The Cardinal Inn Cafe was established in 1931. These signs are probably from the 1950s or 1960s. The pole sign was refurbished sometime between 1998 and 2004. The Cafe's smaller sign is installed above the restaurant's entrance. The cafe moved in 1997 and then again in 2014 to its current location. Both times, the signs were moved to the new locations. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map] |
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Pontiac:
Palamar Motel Schlitz [map] |
| Hotel Elkton Quincy, IL |
Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop Quincy, IL |
Roy Bennett Furniture Quincy, IL |
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The Hotel Elkton sign was probably built in 1959 which is when the Patio Restaurant opened. For more, see this website. [map]
This Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop opened in 1928. The chain was established in Iowa in 1926. This sign appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. Another old location existed in Macomb, IL. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] Roy Bennett Furniture has been around since 1914. [map] |
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More Quincy:
Bel Aire Motel [gone] Illinois Soldiers & Sailors Home Pepsi |
| Rantoul Motel [gone] Rantoul, IL |
Litchfield Hardware [gone] Rantoul, IL |
Furniture World Rantoul, IL |
Beacon Restaurant [gone] Rochelle, IL |
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The Rantoul Motel sign was probably from the 1950s. The motel and the sign were gone by 2022.
Litchfield Hardware opened in 1955 and this sign appears to be from then. The store closed in 1996. It housed Craft Woodworking after that. The sign was removed in 2019 and is now in a private collection. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. Furniture World opened in 1959 and this sign was probably installed then. [map] 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. |
| Sawicki Motors [gone] Rochelle, IL |
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| Sawicki Motors featured vintage Chevrolet OK Used Car signs. These photos are from 2008. By 2015, these signs were gone and there was a new showroom. |
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More Rochelle:
Quinn's Jewelry [map] Rock Falls:
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| Royal Liquor Mart Rockford, IL |
Der Rathskeller [gone] Rockford, IL |
North Main Tavern [gone] Rockford, IL |
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The Royal Liquor Mart opened in 1960. This sign appears to be from then. [map]
The Der Rathskeller restaurant and sausage shop opened in 1931. This sign was probably from the 1950s or 1960s. The restaurant closed in 2019. In 2020, the business reopened as Rathskeller Rockford and the sign was moved to the garden. That business closed in 2021. In 2023, the sign was sold to a private collector. For more, see this website. 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 since the building was being demolished to make room for a two-lane roundabout. As of 2015, it doesn't sound like the bar has reopened. The building and sign are gone. I don't know if this sign was saved. |
| Wayne's Feed Store Rockford, IL |
Parthenios Luncheonette [gone] Rockford, IL |
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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. The sign was repainted around 2017. [map]
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". In 2017, the signs were removed. They were sold at auction and are now in a private collection. |
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More Rockford:
Adams Letter Service Central Park Tap Don Carter Lanes Drive-in Liquor Store [gone?] I. Spinello Locksmiths M. Spinello Locksmiths [gone] Palace Shoe Service [gone] Tenstopet Tavern [gone] |
| Chief Black Hawk [gone] Rock Island, IL |
Harris Pizza Rock Island, IL |
Mulkey's Restaurant Rock Island, IL |
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This Chief Black Hawk sign stood in front of the Watch Tower Plaza shopping center which was built in the 1960s. This sign was originally part of a larger one and was outlined with neon. This photo is from 2009. In 2015, it seemed likely that a Walmart would be built at the site. In 2021, the lot was still vacant but the sign was still there. In 2023, the sign fell over during a storm. It is now in City storage and it is not yet known what will be done with it. For more, see this website.
This Harris Pizza is the company's original location. It opened in 1960 and this sign is from then. For more, see this website. The company's third location in Davenport, IA also had a neon and bulb sign. [map] Mulkey's Restaurant opened in 1955. This sign is probably from then or a few years later. The embossed plastic, middle part of the sign might have revolved originally or it may have replaced another panel. Evidently, the restaurant had a franchise deal with the Henny Penny Corporation. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] |
| Roxana Auto Sales Roxana, IL |
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| The Roxana Auto Sales sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. The neon has been missing since at least 2002. The business is still operating. [map] |
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Rushville:
Knapp Jewelers |
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Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc. Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com. |