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email: roadarch@outlook.com |
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| Illinois Signs (page 4) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Carlo's Restaurant Chicago Heights, IL |
Eagle Liquors Chicago Heights, IL |
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This Carlo's Restaurant opened in 1986 and closed in 2020. I suspect that this 1950s-looking sign came from an earlier location and was moved here. In 2025, it was announced that the restaurant would be demolished for a strip mall. It is not known if the sign will stay and be adapted or if it will be removed. [map]
Eagle Liquors may have opened around 1955. This sign appears to be from then. [map] |
| Helsel Jepperson Electrical Inc. Chicago Heights, IL |
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| Helsel Jepperson Electrical Inc. was established in 1946 in a building behind the Helsel residence. The company opened at this location in 1960. This sign appears to be from then. There is a digital clock at the top of the sign. [map] |
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Chicago Ridge:
James Saunoris & Sons [gone] |
| Auto Clutch All Brake [gone] Cicero, IL |
Rosicky's National Cleaners Cicero, IL |
La Plazuela Cicero, IL |
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Auto Clutch All Brake sold wholesale truck parts/accessories and repairs truck engines. This photo is from 2006. By 2008, the sign was gone.
Rosicky's National Cleaners opened in 1966 and this sign appears to be from then. The business has closed but this sign remains. [map] This crown sign has been installed on top of the La Plazuela bar sign since at least 2007. I don't know when the sign was originally installed but there have been other bars here since at least the 1960s. This sign must have been inspired by the Best Western crown signs which were wider and larger and were also lit with bulbs. [map] |
| Aamco Transmissions Cicero, IL |
Loyal Order of Moose Lodge Cicero, IL |
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This Aamco Transmissions shop opened around 1971 and this sign appears to be from then. These vacuum-formed plastic signs were mass-produced and used all over the country but they are very rare now. [map]
This Loyal Order of Moose Lodge was built in 1956. This carved limestone sign is on the side of the building. [map] |
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More Cicero:
Cindy Lyn Motel Henry's Drive-in Town Hall Bowl [gone] Clarendon Hills:
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| Butterfield Jewelers Collinsville, IL |
Independent Order of Odd Fellows [gone] Collinsville, IL |
Horseshoe Lounge & Restaurant Collinsville, IL |
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Butterfield Jewelers was established in 1936. In 1954, the company moved to this former bank building. The sign is probably from then. [map]
This Independent Order of Odd Fellows sign was probably from the 1930s or 1940s. The lodge was built in 1848. The sign was gone by 2016. The Horseshoe Lounge & Restaurant sign appears to be from the 1950s. [map] |
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More Collinsville:
Ashmann's Pharmacy [gone] |
| Prestige Liquors Countryside, IL |
Merichka's Restaurant Crest Hill, IL |
Southwest Ice Arena Crestwood, IL |
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Prestige Liquors opened around 1967 and this sign might be from then. It appears to be a 1950s sign and might have been adapted from another business. The design is very similar to the Foremost Liquors sign in Chicago.
For more, see this website. [map]
The Merichka's Restaurant was established in 1933. This sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. For more, see this website. [map] The Southwest Ice Arena opened in 1972 and this sign appears to be from then. For more, see this website. [map] |
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More Countryside:
Williams Liquors [gone] La Grange Highlands Shopping Center [gone] More Crestwood:
Crete:
Creve Couer:
Crystal Lake:
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| Hotel Harwal [gone] Danville, IL |
Millikin Dry Cleaners [gone] Danville, IL |
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The Hotel Harwal sign is probably from the 1920s or 1930s. It was removed in 2015 out of safety concerns and put in storage.
Millikin Dry Cleaners was established in 1919. This sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. The business closed in 2014. This photo is from 2010. The store remains vacant and the sign was gone by 2023. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
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More Danville:
Candle Lite Motel [vintage; gone] Little Nugget Steakhouse This Is It Furniture |
| Sandy's Motel [gone] Decatur, IL |
Soy City Motel Decatur, IL |
Del's Popcorn Shop Decatur, IL |
Elam's Drive-in Decatur, IL |
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The Sandy's Motel sign appeared to be from the 1950s. It fell over in a windstorm in 2023. It is now in a private collection. It was replaced with a rectangular, backlit plastic box sign.
The Soy City Motel was built in 1960 and this sign is probably from then. The name is a reference to Decatur's nickname and claim to be the Soybean Capital of the World. For more, see this website. [map] Del's Popcorn Shop opened in 1934 as The Popcorn Shop. It move to this location in the early 1940s. This sign may have been built then. In 1946, the name was changed to Del's Popcorn Shop. The sign's "The" was covered up with the small "Del's" panel. Another location opened in Springfield, IL in 1980. For more, see this website. [map] Elam's Drive-in originally operated as the Silverfross Drive-in. There were at least three other locations in DeKalb, Ottawa, and Streator, IL. In 1954, the Decatur location was sold and renamed Elam's Silverfross Drive-in. This sign was probably built then. It projected from the roof of the building. The building was demolished in 1989. The sign is now displayed inside Drive-in Antiques and More. [map] |
| King-Lar Company Decatur, IL |
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| The King-Lar Company was established in 1927 as a furnace and roofing company. Around 1956, this building was constructed. These signs are probably from then. [map] |
| Raupp's Shoes Decatur, IL |
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| Raupp's Shoes was originally located in Blue Mound, IL and moved here in 1909. This Florsheim sign and storefront are probably from the 1940s and/or 1950s. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] |
| Rigdon Auto Glass Decatur, IL |
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| The Rigdon Auto Glass sign is probably from the 1960s. Around 2020, the plastic text panel was removed and replaced with a new panel for Stephens Auto Glass. The balls were painted a plum color. [first photo thanks Wes Worsham] [map] |
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More Decatur:
Chinese Tea Garden [gone] Pines Shopping Center Pla-Mor Lanes |
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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. |