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email: roadarch@outlook.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)
| Lothson's Karry Out DeKalb, IL |
Sullivan's Drive-in DeKalb, IL |
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Lothson's Karry Out opened in 1949 and moved to this location at some point later on. These signs are probably from the 1950s. [map]
Sullivan's Drive-in, now known as Sullivan's Tavern, opened in 1945. This sign was probably built then. The arrow apparently had bulbs originally that were replaced with neon tubing. [map] |
| Sugar Bowl Restaurant Des Plaines, IL |
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| The Sugar Bowl building was constructed in the early 1920s and housed three separate entities: the Sugar Bowl Sweet Shop (a candy shop), the Des Plaines Restaurant/Cafe, and the Cypress Cafe/Inn. In 1958, the three businesses were merged into one known as the Sugar Bowl and this sign was built to advertise both the restaurant and the candy shop. The text on the bottom part of the sign originally alternated between "Sweet Shop" and "Ice Cream". In 2009, the new owner wanted to alter the sign with a new business name but the City prohibited it. The name was kept but the text on the lower part of the sign was changed to read "Pancakes and More." For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map] |
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More Des Plaines:
Choo-Choo Grill Sim's Bowl [gone] |
| Hey Brothers Ice Cream Dixon, IL |
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| Hey Brothers Ice Cream was produced in northwestern Illinois from the 1910s to the early 1990s. The company was established by Abram, Ira, and Henry Hey. This sign is probably from the 1950s. It hangs at a long-closed factory in Dixon which was the last one to close. For more, see this website. [map] |
| Budweiser Dixon, IL |
Norco Cleaners Dolton, IL |
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This Budweiser sign is installed above the side entrance to The Stables Bar. It has been there since at least 2007. The bar opened in 1939. [map]
Norco Cleaners was established in 1944. This location has been there since at least 1969 and this sign is probably from then. [map] |
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More Dixon:
Walter C. Knack Co. [gone] |
| Duellman's Motel [gone] Downers Grove, IL |
Independent Order of Odd Fellows Du Quoin, IL |
Old World Liquors Dwight, IL |
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Duellman's Motel closed sometime after this 2006 photo was taken. The sign was removed sometime after 2012. For more, see this website.
This Independent Order of Odd Fellows sign is probably from the 1950s. FLT stands for Friendship, Love, and Truth. [map] The Old World Liquors sign might be from the 1960s. [map] |
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More Downers Grove:
Tivoli Bowl |
| Co-Op Earlville, IL |
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| This Co-Op sign is installed at the Earlville Farmer's Co-Op Elevator Co. These signs were mass-produced for farm cooperatives around the country. This is the original, unique sign pole. These backlit, plastic signs are probably from the 1960s and/or 1970s. There were earlier metal signs. For a couple of other examples, see this one in Alma, KS and this adapted sign in North Utica, IL. [map] |
| Schnee's Lounge [gone] East Dubuque, IL |
Beacon Motel East Peoria, IL |
East St. Louis Daily Journal East St. Louis, IL |
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Schnee's Lounge had been abandoned since at least 2007. The vitrolite facade was missing some tiles when this photo was taken in 2009. By 2013, the building and sign were gone. For more, see this website.
The Beacon Motel sign is probably from the 1950s. [map] The East St. Louis Daily Journal was established in 1888. It was renamed the St. Clair and Madison Counties Evening and Sunday Journal in 1958. It became that the Metro-East Journal in 1964 and then stopped publication in 1979. This building was built in 1936 and has been vacant for decades. This sign is probably from the 1950s. [map] |
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More East Dubuque:
Timmerman's Supper Club & Motor Inn [gone] |
| Kriege Hardware (now Dewey's Pizza) Edwardsville, IL |
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| The Kriege Hardware store opened in this building around 1948. This sign is probably from then. The store closed in 2011. In 2012, the sign was adapted by the new tenant, Dewey's Pizza. [map] |
| Orchard Inn Effingham, IL |
Effingham Motel Effingham, IL |
Masonic Lodge Effingham, IL |
Green Lantern Restaurant [gone] Effingham, IL |
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The Orchard Inn was established in 1934. This sign was probably installed in the 1950s or 1960s. Around 2020, the sign collapsed to the ground. It was badly damaged and replicated by Double D Signs later that year. This photo is from 2024. [map]
The Effingham Motel was built around 1948 as the Ooton Motel. There was a different sign there then. It became the Effingham Motel in 1950. This sign is probably from then. For more, see this website. [map] The Masonic Lodge moved to this building in 1949. This sign is probably from then. [map] The Green Lantern Restaurant was destroyed by fire in 2007. This photo is from 2005. The sign was removed in 2011. At that point, the plan was to restore the sign and sell it. |
| 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. |
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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. |