Signs of the Times: Frankfort, KY Edition

We spent the day in Frankfort, Ky this past weekend. Yes, the main claim to fame is that it is the capitol of Kentucky. It's also a bourbon distillery area. There are two state capitol buildings- both very impressive in their own way. The old Capitol was built in 1830, the new Capitol in 1910. Yes - we call the 1910 building the 'New' capitol. But what caught my eye was the old downtown area. It

Signs of The Times: Neon Parking

Here's one for you neon sign lovers. A great big, old sign for a working parking garage in grand working condition. You can see it's on in the close ups. The Starks Building itself, commissioned by John Starks Rodes, has been around at 4th and Muhammed Ali Blvd. since , oh,1913. Juts a youngster of a building. This parking garage dates from 1953 and was an early one in Louisville. It is a huge

Signs of the Times: Levy Bros and Spaghetti

Levy Bros. was a long time Louisville department store and institution founded by Henry and Moses Levy, who opened their store in 1861 at the NE corner of 3rd St. and Market in a corner room of a 4 story building. They prospered during the Civil War as suppliers became the nation's largest supplier of Confederate for reunions and encampments. In 1889, they purchased the land and started

Signs of the Times: The OK Corral

If you have driven in downtown Louisville, you know this sign. As in, 'turn right at the OK Storage Building'. It's very large and quite the landmark at the intersection of E. Broadway and Barret as Broadway leaves 'downtown' and heads into the Original Highlands toward Bardstown Rd. Or at least it was until it was covered up by a temporary vinyl banner.There's more under the Kindred Hospital

Signs of the Times: Bags and Burlap

This Ohio Vally Bag And Burlap Sign is on Preston St. and they have been around since the 1920s. The company, now doing business as Ovasco Industries, is still in business at 1475 S. 15th St. I had to drive back into town to get the shot before the vine leafed out. Once it was fully out, the paint was completely covered. I am happy to say that since I took these photos, the vine has been removed

Signs of the Times: Murphy Elevator Co.

Today's sign theme? Elevators. The Murphy Elevator Co.with passenger and freight elevators. It's a big neon strip sign at 128 E. Main St. Hard to miss and something of a landmark , at least to me. And yes - they are still there and in business! Since 1932, I am happy to say. I don't get to write that often on these posts. I am fond of the gilt on glass window sign, too. This style needs to make

Signs of the Times: Grain and Whiskey

This one's a bit hard to see. The trees were coming out and I was on my way home from work. The top sign? Hay, grain and feed. The bottom sign ? Old Charter Whiskey. And what do they make whiskey out of? Grain. Always a treat to find a moment of appropriate juxataposition. This stretch of Market Street is seeing some renovations. I do hope they leave these two signs so residents will know it

Signs of the Times: Furniture & Pool Hall

These two sit next to each other on East Market St. What I still think of as the way to Baer's Fabrics, but Baer's is no more. Don't get me started on the loss of Baer's. That's another post. So now it's the way to the Ballet if I am coming from the west.Greene Furniture is an over paint, and it's not the most recent business in that structure by a long shot. I believe this was Riney Bedding

Signs of the Times: Pianos

This is the sign that piqued my interest. I drove past this every evening on my way home from work on a free lance job downtown. I wondered: Whose Pianos? How many times was this over painted, only to have the original paint come through? And what did P.P.X.L. mean? And how long ago was advertising so simple that just stating the product type was enough? Or that pianos were advertised this way?

Signs of the times: Plumbing since 1872

Since 1872!I find several things appealing about this painted sign. First they list so many services, including coal stokers. I like the way the text is placed between the windows. And then: The Hand. With a cuff and cufflink, to boot. And a bonus - this company is still in business after 128 years! This sign has been here quite a while. According to the Schardein website, this store on 6th St.

Signs of the Times: Coffee and Coca-Cola

Today's sign theme is beverages. First up - a huge cup of coffee on the side of a high rise on Chestnut St. near 4th. The script is sadly illegible, but the appeal of a steaming cup of coffee in a china cup and saucer is still there. Just off to the side you can see the window frames for a sense of scale. Given the location in the central business district, I amazed this hasn't been painted over.

Elevators and Washing Machines

I started taking photos of various signs in downtown Louisville because so many of these older were disappearing. These painted signs on the side and back walls of the brick buildings are very vulnerable. Even more so than the old neon signs, which can be salvaged. And as these commercial and industrial buildings are rehabbed, they are often painted, and the signs are lost. Or worse, as

The Morrissey Garage Sign

I understand that the c. 1919 Morrissey Garage on 3rd St. is one of, if not the, oldest parking garage in Louisville. It certainly looks like it is was planned for older, narrower cars. It is located right next to the old Falls City Theatrical Equipment Co. Since that was originally a theatre, I can see how this was a good location. Both buildings are empty and endangered. I have no idea how

Neon Signs - Bridges- Smith

Another downtown Louisville business closed. This time it's Bridges-Smith Paint on Main. I swear, all that will be left downtown soon are high rises, hospitals, restaurants and bars. Yesterday, a local auction house sold off the stock and contents of Bridges and Smith. So here is a photo I took last year of their great sign in tribute.Bridges Smith & Co. Paints Since 1875, 118 - 122 E. Main St.

Signs of the Times: Neon

This is part of my small photo project capturing old painted and neon signs in downtown. I took this one yesterday from the top of the Starks Parking garage. We used to purchase from the old Falls City Theatre Equipment Co. at 429 S. 3rd Street back in my days at the university. They haven't been out of business all that long, really. The building itself is quite old - I read recently it was an