The last batch from Brookfield

 

If you're tired of "Brookfield this" and "Brookfield that" and

"Brookfield is so great" you're in luck. These are the last of the 

ghost signs from Brookfield.

You'd think this one would be in better shape...

Considering it had some protection from the elements.

As it is, we can only make out what appears to be

the numeral 5, and we're not completely sure of that.

Brookfield really appears to have been a major target for ads from

 Owl Cigars. We can't think of any other place we've seen two

and so close to one another. The owl is still slightly

visible on the right side, and we believe we see a 5¢ 

just to the left of the owl.

Could the 5¢ in the previous sign be another cigar ad?

In the upper right hand corner, we can make out 

what appears to be the word 'grocery'

in two different fonts, slightly overlaid each other. 

But we can't decipher the name across the top.

If you can interpret anything else from this sign, 

please let us know.

Still More from Brookfield

Just a block away from yesterday's entry, the Owl Cigar sign, we 

find the remnants of a Bull Durham advertisement in bad shape.

On the other end of the wall, we find 

two more in worse condition.

There are faint traces of sweeping lettering at the top.

A small Coca-Cola sign, perhaps?
 

Traces of yellow, and lots of lettering if

you look closely enough, but unreadable.

More from Brookfield

 

Among the Ghost Sign community, there seems to be a certain love

for Mail Pouch and Bull Durham signs. (You can find both here.)

I'm just as fond of the Owl Cigar signs I've found across the Midwest.

The weather was beautiful for our hunt through Brookfield,

but the time of year makes some photos difficult:

the sun is very low in the sky.

The only word we can discern on that top

sign is "Harness."

Welcome to Brookfield

 

Brookfield, Missouri, that is.

While we're pretty sure that Pepsi Cola sign is a replica, we're fine with it,

because someone cares enough to keep the artform alive.

Same goes for this on the other side of Downtown Brookfield.

The Sinclair sign looks pretty new, the piano sign looks refreshed,

and the Gooch's, well, it's a shame that's covered.

It seems like we've seen Gooch's signs before, but cannot recall off

the tops of our heads where. 
A search comes up with several restaurants across the country, an American regiment in the War of Jenkins' Ear, a BBQ rub, a New England beach, a funeral home, 

and a online grocery store in Kansas. 

We suspect that that's the Gooch's listed here.

Much more to come from Brookfield. And beyond.

One more from St. Looey

Sometimes they get less legible the closer you get.

It's definitely there, but we can't even begin to guess what it said.

This is another side of a building featured in the previous entry.

 

Ghost Signs of Saint Louis: The Fifth Entry

Maybe it's just the words "sporting goods" but this reminds

us of one in Cincinnati.

Not our usual fare of paint on brick, but it'll do.

Pianos is clearly visible in the upper right hand corner of the building.

This was more readable in person.

Tomorrow: The final entry from Saint Louis?

 

St. Louis, part three: Back to Downtown

 

Pants!

We can only imagine how elaborate this was in its heyday.

All of these were found along Washington Avenue

Hats, pants, suits, skirts.

Yes, this was the Garment District.

Cheer Up and Smile

 

As we were walking through the Soulard neighborhood, we

chanced upon these beauties.

Mosaic tile is an unusual media for ghost signs.

You can read more about Smile and Cheer Up here.

And then we noticed this nearby...

And while Dr. Hoffman is no longer making Red Drops,

the advertisement persists.

A return to St. Louis: Part One

 

You might recall our last trip to Saint Louis. If you don't.

Here.

This time, we have a better camera phone.

And more time.

And another neighborhood: Soulard.

St. Louis has a lot of signs for milliners. 

The really really good stuff from Soulard is still coming.

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.