The Big O

The Old Market, Omaha, Nebraska.  It's a former warehouse district that's been gentrified.  It's been a cool hangout for years, and it wasn't until I hit it on this trip that I knew how cool.

 

Because of the signs.  I knew I'd find a couple, but, jeez.  I felt like a big game hunter who stumbled upon a nature preserve.

My host for the day, D.L. Hudson, was kind enough to not only drive me to the Old Market, but was also patient as I got giddy over faded paint on old brick.

 

And soon, he was pointing out signs, like this Schlitz "doormat", comparing it to a Toynbee Tile.

 

Many more Omaha signs coming... 

More from the Tracks

Mendota, IL

The Eahlers sign, not so much the Setchell.

 

Take with the Droid, from the window of a moving Amtrak car.  Oddly enough, if you look at the building on Google Maps/Streetview, the picture quality isn't that different.  So, obviously, it's always overcast in Mendota, and Google uses camera phones.

The Joy of Discovery. And the Pain of Obliviousness.

This is in the alleyway behind the Macy's building.  It's near other ghost signs, and close to a big, ugly 70's mural.  I'd noticed the Shaftway (whatever that means) sign before, but didn't pay it much attention, because it didn't immediately meet the strictest criteria* for this blog. 

It wasn't until yesterday when I happened to notice the painted awnings. 

So: happy for finding something.  Sad for not seeing it before.

 

 

 

*The strictest criteria meaning arbitrary rules created and ignored by me when convenient.

What Once Was

On Main Street.  It was the Second National Bank.

(More photos from the trip a-comin'.)

 

 

Galesburg, IL

Picture 1 is from the westward trip.  In Picture 2, the train is headed east.

Not meeting any of the qualifications for a ghost sign really, but I liked the artwork.

Long Time Gone

I'm back from travels.

Amtrak took me partway across the country to visit family and friends,

but I saw so much more.

(There are a few photos from the windows of the train, but many more that are better.)

Hooked

A friend I hadn't talked to in a while called me Sunday, and invited me on a walk.  We strolled through OTR, with me stopping every few feet, and taking a picture of walls.

I told her what I was doing, about this blog, and such, and within a few blocks, I noticed she was looking up.  Eventually, she started spotting, and picked out a couple I'd missed. 

 

This was the first of the day, on 12th, between Race and Vine.  And this beaut is on the other side of the building.

 

And with that, I'm taking a vacation.