North Shore Line

Old North Shore Line neon sign, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The Chicago, North Shore, and Milwaukee Railroad was a Chicago-based interurban line that ran from 1916 to 1963. One of the Insull Lines (along with the Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin and the Chicago, South Shore, and South Bend), the North Shore initially only reached Evanston, running on a private right of way all the way to Beer City. In 1919, the road obtained trackage rights over the Northwestern Elevated, which allowed access to the Loop, and service between the North Shore's two namesake cities.

Despite entering receivership in 1932, the North Shore managed to survive the Depression, even going so far as to introduce a pair of streamlined articulated trains, the famed Electroliners that ran five runs a day between the Windy and Beer Cities. The North Shore also saw a steep incline in ridership during the Second World War, due in no small part to the road's service at both Great Lakes Naval Base and Fort Sheridan.

However, like most interurbans, it didn't last. The North Shore saw fairly strong ridership after the war, but increased automobile ownership caused traffic problems in areas where there was still street running. In addition, the new Edens Expressway took local riders on the Skokie Valley Route (in use since 1926), which put a serious crimp in profitability. But by 1963 ridership had decreased so much that the North Shore ceased operations, with a final Electroliner run between Chicago and Milwaukee.

I'm not sure where this North Shore sign once stood-it is currently at the Illinois Railway Museum and has been beautifully restored since I shot this.

Ziegler Music

Ziegler Music, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Ziegler Music is an Aurora institution, having been in business for.....well forever it seems. Now located on Broadway, this sign-repurposed from a previous location-is around the back of the building, and advertises Conn organs.

G.C. Conn Ltd. manufactured a variety of instruments for over a hundred years. I know nothing about organs, but Mr. Ziegler (whom I met totally by accident when shooting this) claims that they were some of the best organs he sold in his store.

Traction Terminal Building

Traction Terminal Building, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The former Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin Railway terminal in Aurora, Illinois, also known as the Hotel Arthur. Completed in 1905, it was the tallest building in Aurora at the time, as well as being the only hotel on the east side of the Fox River. In 1915, the CA&E leased space in the ground floor, and the building was renamed the Traction Terminal Building, a name it carries to this day. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, it's being restored and converted to downtown condos.

Cad Nebula

Cad Nebula, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I seem to have found several old Cadillacs through the years, or they have found me. This is a '62-ish sedan.

I thought the rust spot around the logo looked like a bit nebula-esque. The title was a tossup between this and "The Pillars of Cadillac", which wouldn't make sense if you didn't know about the "Pillars of Creation".

The Friendly Confines

Wrigley Field-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The iconic neon sign at Wrigley Field, on the corner of Waveland and Sheffield Avenues. One of the few remaining "jewel box" style of inner city stadia, and a Chicago icon.

Taken during a night game, which lends a different feel to the place-all those lights aglow!

Water Tower

Water Tower, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

This old fashioned water tower is almost literally in the middle of nowhere. It's in a field, surrounded on three sides by unpaved roads. There are a few buildings around-a couple of factories, a junkyard, and, like, half a dozen houses. But I don't think this area has any name, and I don't know what township it's aligned with.

It's fairly tall, too. You can see it from miles around as you drive along US 30.

The Big E

Big E, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

We've talked about the Edsel before, so I won't go into the history of the marque again, except to say that I've always had a soft spot for these underdogs.

This Edsel hood ornament would usually be in the center of the hood, but this car was pretty heavily customized and featured one on each fender. How heavily customized? The front clip was all Edsel, and from the windscreen back it was all Ford Ranchero.

The owner called it a "Fordsel".

Authorized Service

Authorized Service, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I don't often shoot smaller neon signs-they're usually meant for wall or window display and the most common ones seem to be for beer or cigarettes. Once in a while, though, one pops up with some other subject matter.

This Buick is one such sign. Something like this would probably have hung in a showroom window, or maybe out by the service department. I don't know if this is original or a reproduction (or, really, if they used these back in the day), but it is gorgeous.

Shoes

Shoes, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Aurora, Illinois is a pretty big city, and was once a major hub for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. The downtown area is full of old buildings, many of which haven't been over-restored or heavily altered. There are only a few ghost signs, and one of the better known is "shoes". This building is on Broadway, just east of the Fox River. There's some writing near the top (I think it says "felt" somewhere), and there's a twin on the other side, but it's hard to see and shoot.

I have it on fairly good authority that this used to be the location of Van Ham Shoes.

Traction Terminal Building

Traction Terminal Building, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The former Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin Railway terminal in Aurora, Illinois, also known as the Hotel Arthur. Completed in 1905, it was the tallest building in Aurora at the time, as well as being the only hotel on the east side of the Fox River. In 1915, the CA&E leased space in the ground floor, and the building was renamed the Traction Terminal Building, a name it carries to this day. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, it's being restored and converted to downtown condos.

D-Gas

D-Gas, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Stickers and writing in the quarter window of a beautifully presented '55 Chevy 150 gasser. Gas class racing started off to allow guys with hot street rods a place to race, but eventually it morphed into more modified, stock bodied racers. High straight axles, wide slicks, and colored plexiglass side windows were all hallmarks of a gasser. It's probably my favorite style of hot rod, even more than the classic roadster.

M.B. Union Church

Church Sign-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Neon church sign in Chicago, on the near West side. I spotted a couple of neon church signs in the city-it sort of makes me wonder how many are out there.

I also note that the Sears...er...Willis Tower is in the background-sometimes it's impossible to avoid catching it.

Nebraska Zephyr

Nebraska Zephyr, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The illuminated signboard on the back of the Nebraska Zephyr, a restored train set currently running at the Illinois Railway Museum.

The DeKalb

The DeKalb, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Closed for movies but open for other stuff, the DeKalb Theater still has this awesome, if inoperative, sign out front. I don't know how long it's been out of the movie business, but there's a beauty school there now.

Mossy Glory

Mossy Glory, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I don't think I've ever seen that much moss and crud caked on a vehicle that wasn't in a jungle somewhere. This one's covered-I don't think there's a panel that is completely free of it.

This truck's pretty much toast-but it pleases me to note that the shiny badges and headlights seem good as new.

Colonnade Motel

Colonnade Motel, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I've passed this sign dozens of times on my way west along the Lincoln Highway, and have only recently stopped to shoot it. The sky was perfect, the lighting just right, and the parking lot wasn't so full that people would stare.

I note that this sign looks like it was painted over at some point, which makes me wonder if it used to say something other than "Colonnade". The plastic sign on the side of the building, which clearly used to be in an illuminated fixture, makes me think this even more.

Your Neighborhood Supper Club

Your Neighborhood Supper Club, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Plastic vacuformed sign outside the B.C. Club in tiny Arlington, Illinois. The restaurant appears to be one of two businesses in the town. At least I assume so, it may not be open-I didn't see signs to say one way or the other.

If Arlington sounds familiar, we visited their excellent-and now demolished-grain elevator last year.