Jewelers' Row

So named because there are a lot of jewelers there.

Still in Philly

Note the mostly ivy-covered sign near the bottom.

Sunrise over Broad Street

Philly Cheesesteak

Yes, when we were in Philadelphia, we had a cheesesteak.

No, it wasn't at Wendy's or Spicy Memory.

18th? 19th? How about 20th?

Maybe it was the fact we were in a city with roots back to the 17th Century,

but when we found this sign, we felt it had to be old.

Really old. 

And it is. Just not as old as we thought.

The company dates back to 1921.

And Philadelphia's Ghost Sign Project captures the layers where it has been repainted.

Three Tiers

We often have to do a double take.

At first glance, we noticed only the camera store sign.

It wasn't until we walked by again that we noticed the other two faded signs.

Faded Philadelphia

Empire Building

Philly's Old City

We haven't been able to find much information about this building 

or the glorious ghost signage upon its walls, other than...

... there's an ice cream parlor there now.

Philadelphia's Ghost Sign Project says the sign is for Roxy's Sporting Goods.

Philadelphia

A little history about the building here. Apparently it stopped being a 

furniture store around 2008.

No matter what that first article says, Google Street View shows a hookah shop in the ground floor, 

and a sign advertising retail/office space for lease.

But what's really important to us is the glorious green Society Hill Furniture sign

and the layered signs it covers.

What does it cover? According to this site, a Wurlitzer Piano sign.

And where did Wurlizter start? Cincinnati.

Are there Wurlitzer signs here that we have overlooked or mistranslated?

City of Brotherly Love

Today we begin our series of ghost signs and streetscapes shot earlier this 

summer in a city rich with history: Philadelphia.

You'll note the Bailey Building in the lower left hand corner of the first photo.

And here it is again, from a slightly different angle.

Back in Omaha

As you may know, across the river from Council Bluffs is one of our favorite ghost sign cities:

Omaha, Nebraska.

To the left you can see this building.  But there's another faint sign on the right.

Enhanced.

Council Bluffs

First up, something our Western Field Agent, Mr. D.L. Hudson has submitted previously.

And across the street, unsubmitted previously, on the side and front of Kanesville Kollectables, we have these.

(Editor Note: Looking at our Iowa collection, except for the latter half of today's entry, everything came from Mr. Hudson or his friend Ms. D. Walz.)

This Post is Not About Ashley Frost

We're sure she's a wonderful person. She inspired someone to tag her on a highway wall in Council Bluffs, Iowa, after all.

No, this post is about the International Harvest complex.

Dawson, Nebraska

After leaving St. Joseph, we stopped in Wathena, KS, thinking the bedroom community would have a few ghost signs.

It didn't. A least not that we found.

But our next pause did.

Hello from Dawson, Nebraska. Along US 75. Population 146, according to Wikipedia.

Eggs

At least that's what we read.

We were so enamored with the red and orange and white of this sign 

on the side of the Jamieson Machine Company, we neglected to note the metal plaque. 

Wyeth made horse collars and saddles, and later automotive parts.

Finding a Resource to Compliment the Ghost Sign Hunt

Zooming in...

Dry Goods and Furnishings

And on the far end of the row:

Hopkins Imported Teas, Silks & China.

And this building is at 4th and Francis.

If you're so inclined, we recommend visiting this page for a little more history about St. Joseph and a lot of photos of signs before they were ghosts.

Jamieson Machine Co., St. Joseph Missouri

The opening on the second floor should be a tip off that this building is still in use.

But is it the Jamieson Machine Company?

Survey says yes. They're still in business.

Which makes this not a ghost sign, but still, faded ad art, which is the name of this blog.