History all around us Part 3
Look up, down, all around you will see almost hidden in plain site, the history represented in signs. Ghost signs left from an old business, or advertisement of a once popular product or service. They are everywhere, in every city, even on old barns along the highways.
Here are some from around the mid-west, St. Louis, Missouri area and the stories and history behind them.
This sign is for The Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company. This building was built in 1923 to expand upon the smaller two story existing building when the E-J shoe company moved in and started using the location for a warehouse/distribution center and sales showroom. The company came to the St. Louis area in 1907 to compete with the very successful area shoe manufactures, but moved to this location in 1924 after construction. The company began in 1854 as Lester Brothers Boot and Shoe Co. then becoming Endicott-Johnson in 1899 in New York.
The smaller building to the left was built for the Columbia Transfer Company in 1915 due to its proximity to the rail yards. It was only used until 1923, when the shoe co. moved in.
Not always hidden
Some ghost signs are very visible, like the one above and they aren’t always faded painted signs. Often you will see more of these type left on older buildings then the painted kind that new owners paint over or remove for their own names.
The past is visible everywhere.
This sign is in Lafayette Park in St. Louis, Mo for Eden (now lofts) is still visible along Chouteau Ave. Built in 1896 for Eden Publishing House but not long after, the great tornado of 1896 hit part of the building. After repairs, it then changed and was added on until 1929 when a 5 story addition was added to house a store, and offices. Eden Publishing ceased in 1978. The art deco signs are all still intact.
Kodak ~a mini history of its connection to St. Louis
Eastman Kodak Company building, built in 1928 in the new modern/ art deco style. The entire block of Olive street is on the National Register of Historic Places and most of this low rise style. 100 stores were going to be built for Kodak, but due to the great depression only 5 were completed. The building was used a fur company before being renovated about 30 years ago, where the cameras seen in the store front were found.
storefront window displays, also note the EKC on top of the awning.
The Thaxton Speakeasy and Event space is now occupying the building and kept the fabulous art deco style throughout. Where once was a Kodak sign, now hangs a Thaxton sign.
Well Hidden in Plain Sight
In an old historic neighborhood in St. Louis, MO called Lafayette Square, is this ghost sign on the side of a private home. The home is across the street from one of the oldest parks in the city. Next to this house is two new homes built in 2015 in very much the style of the older homes on the street (the lot where the 2 houses are was once the Lafayette Park Hotel). The sign is hardly visible if you are busy driving by.
The sign is for Crystal Domino Granulated Sugar. Domino Sugar was a company located in New York. The house with the sign was damaged in the “Great Cyclone of 1896”. Post coming soon on this devastating disaster.
Here’s a few more images from the inside, and the back alley to the Thaxton Speakeasy (secret password needed for entry)!
There as so many signs still visible if you really look and see what is right in front of you! Do you have any favorites? Leave a comment and let me know! I have many more for future posts. A blog about how St. Louis was once the Shoe capital of the nation coming up!