Vintage Signs Make Me Smile

I live in the Silver Valley of Idaho, made up of 8 small towns, the most well known towns are Kellogg and Wallace. I actually live in between the 2 towns. The Silver Valley has a slower pace. It is filled with Antique Shops nestled between 2 fantastic Ski Resorts and has miles and miles of bicycle trails, hiking trails and ATV trails. There is little to no traffic or crime. But the best part of it is, how we've managed to turn back time. Wallace is listed on the National Historic Register. Not one house or two.... the ENTIRE town. Time has stopped there. When you look around the buildings are all pretty much original 1910. They have modern interiors with Art Galleries and restaurants and antique shops galore but on the outside, it's like stepping back in time.   {Take this sign for instance, Bull Durham Smoking Tobacco, it was painted on the side of this building before the windows ceria 1940 were installed.}   This weekend, Joe and I went in search of vintage store front signs. My favorites are these free form signs from the 40s. Some are not maintained anymore and a few are just as they were the day they were erected. This Stardust Hotel Sign is impeccably maintained by the Wallace Inn. All the neon works and all those colorful stars light up.  This Stein Bar sign has been hanging on the side of Doctors office for as long as I can remember. I have lived here 40 years and have never seen the Stein bar in business. Some of the light bulbs are missing but this baby is still in amazing shape. The Sunshine Inn is located in Kellogg. This vintage free form space age style sign is adorable.  The Silver Corner sign has seen better days, it use to light up with light bulbs all around it's perimeter. It is sad to see it decay. Still one of the best burger joints in town. Amazing fries! The Wallace Corner has been a fixture here since the early 1900s. I think this sign dates to the 20s. It has been painted and restored many times. The business this sign is attached to has been an antique shop, tattoo parlor, attorneys office among other things in recent years, it is currently for rent and calling me to fill it with antiques (I wish!). The back of this sign is in the photo above, is painted with a red background instead of the rusty blue below.   Zanetti Brothers have maintained this sign in Osburn for many years. I love that the orange neon still glows after all these years. I also love that they have never replaced it with a more modern sign.  These free form shapes just make me happy. Hope you enjoyed this little blast from the past.   

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