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Illinois Signs (page 14)

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International Order
of Odd Fellows Lodge
Polo, IL		 American Legion Post
Polo, IL
The International Order of Odd Fellows Lodge was built from 1901-1902. This backlit glass sign might be from the 1920s or 1930s. [map]

This American Legion Post sign is now displayed from inside the front window. It is probably from the 1950s. [map]

Schlitz
Pontiac, IL		 Pontiac
Pontiac, IL
The Schlitz sign is installed at Sheila's Nut House restaurant. The building previously housed Scotty's Place bar and probably some other bars before that. The sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

This Pontiac sign is displayed inside the Pontiac-Oakland Auto Museum. It might be from the 1950s.

Hotel Elkton
Quincy, IL		 Durst's Dairy
Quincy, IL		 Roy Bennett Furniture
Quincy, IL
The Hotel Elkton was built in 1924 for the Elks Club. In 1949, the upper floors were converted into a hotel and the building was renamed the Hotel Elkton. This sign was probably built in 1959 which is when the Patio Restaurant opened. The hotel was converted into apartments in 2010. The restaurant closed in 2019 but has reopened. For more, see this website. [map]

The Durst Brothers Sunshine Dairy was established in 1913. At some point, the business moved to this location. In 1967, Prairie Farms Dairy bought the building but these stainless steel letters remain. [map]

Roy Bennett Furniture has been around since 1914. The store moved to its current location in 1930. There was originally a tall blade sign. This projecting sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. The store closed in 2024 and it is not known if the sign will be removed. The building may be converted into apartments. [map]

More Quincy:
Bel Aire Motel [gone]
Illinois Soldiers & Sailors Home
Maid-Rite
Pepsi

Rantoul Motel [gone]
Rantoul, IL		 Litchfield
Hardware [gone]
Rantoul, IL		 Furniture World
Rantoul, IL
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]

Masonic Temple
Rochelle, IL		 Beacon
Restaurant [gone]
Rochelle, IL		 Quinn's Jewelry
Rochelle, IL
This Masonic Temple sign featured backlit glass globes with painted symbols. [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.

Quinn's Jewelry opened in 1963 in the former Townsend Jewelers space. This sign may be from then. [map]

Sawicki Motors [gone]
Rochelle, IL
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.

Hill's Electric Motor Services
Rock Falls, IL		 Central Park Tap
Rockford, IL		 I. Spinello & Sons
Locksmiths [gone]
Rockford, IL
Hill's Electric Motor Services was established in 1919 in Memphis, TN. The business moved to Rock Falls in 1925. It moved to its current location in 1933. This sign might be from the 1940s or 1950s. The neon tubing holes have been patched. [map]

The Central Park Tap opened in 1950 and this sign is probably from then. [map]

The I. Spinello & Sons Locksmiths sign might have been from the 1950s or 1960s. In 2025, the store was moving to a new location and the sign was removed. It will be put in storage since it cannot be displayed at the new place.

Royal Liquor Mart
Rockford, IL		 Der Rathskeller [gone]
Rockford, IL		 North Main Tavern [gone]
Rockford, IL
The Royal Liquor Mart opened in 1960 and 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
2006: 2024:
Wayne's Feed Store opened at this location in 1964. The owner's brother-in-law made the "farmer sign" then. The leaking bucket that spells out what's for sale inside. I'm told that the sign originally had neon and the spilling words were originally animated. However, I'm skeptical since these are wooden panels. The sign was repainted around 2017. [map]

Lino's
Rockford, IL		 Parthenios Luncheonette [gone]
Rockford, IL
Lino's was established in 1972. I don't think this sign was there originally. by 2017, the "Lino's" neon letters were replaced with backlit plastic versions. [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.

More Rockford:
Adams Letter Service [gone]
Don Carter Lanes
Drive-in Liquor Store [gone]
M. Spinello Locksmiths [gone]
Palace Shoe Service [gone]
Tenstopet Tavern [gone]

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