Friday, August 16, 2024

One more batch from Champaign

 






number of Piggly Wiggly stores, before
being consumed by what is now Jewel.






If there was a name of the company whose
motto is "Honesty Best Policy" we didn't
see it. Insurance best guess.


Monday, August 12, 2024

Stoltey Garage

 


Stoltey Garage, a full service auto 
care company in an 1898 building.


Checking Google StreetView, we see 


How do we know the history of this?


which does more than just run buses.

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Playing Hard to Get


We spotted this from afar...


And alas, could not get a good view of it.
But, we're not disappointed as it probably
isn't very old to begin with.


However, on the front of the building, we made
some interesting discoveries.


We found out a little bit about Fred A. Finder.


And apparently he was a plumber, at least until 1950.


Sometime after that, the building housed antiques. 
It's empty now.


Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Historical Retail of Champaign

 


Can you tell what this one says?
Even with the zoom-in, it's difficult.


Cash
or
Credit


Then there's the Greenman's,
with the old sign sitting atop
something much newer.


Can you tell what this is?
Ms. J. Fiesta had to tell us.


Zooming in to the bottom
for a hint.


How about another angle?


A&P Grocery
(The sign is at 118 E. University.
We don't know where the store was.)

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Another blast of Champaign


There's a lot going on on this one building, 
so let's zoom in to different sections.

At the very top: unreadable.


At the top: unreadable?
Followed by what appears
to be two vertical... COAL,
both small and large.


We're going to guess WAGNER and SON


On the eastern side of the building,
a giant arrow, pointing to the front.


We featured the southern face
of this same building yesterday,
but let's take a closer look.


Along the top
we found this.


And just a hint of a box.
Whatever was inside is gone now.

Monday, August 5, 2024

Champaign, Illinois

 


Let's just jump right in with a couple of refreshes.
(Although, this Twin-City Ice is actually in Urbana.)


What's the difference?


Well, it's only Champaign if it's a midwestern
city with a large university in it.


Otherwise, it's just sparkling Urbana.


Not every ghost sign here has been lovingly restored.


As a matter of fact, some are in downright poor shape.


But, there are plenty in good condition, and 
in the coming days, we'll visit them.

Monday, July 22, 2024

Reader submissions

 


First, this entry from Quebec, captured by Ms. J. Woll.



And then two sent by Ms. J. Fiesta in Chicago.