Mel-O-Cream Donuts
Springfield, IL Photos courtesy Chibbqking
A stop at Mel-O-Cream Donuts has been a Springfield tradition for generations. The familiar retro signs have welcomed hungry customers for decades, pointing the way to fresh donuts, coffee, and other baked treats that have made the local business a favorite since the Great Depression. See the Mel-O-Cream website for more information. 05-09
Mel-O-Cream was founded in 1932 by Kelly Grant Sr. during one of the country's toughest economic times. Despite those humble beginnings, the company continued to grow, expanding to 14 retail shops by around 1980. As the business evolved, its focus shifted toward manufacturing and wholesale distribution, supplying frozen and par-baked products to customers across the country while continuing to operate a handful of retail locations in Springfield.
Mel-O_Cream marquee
Springfield, IL Photo courtesy William North
The classic Mel-O-Cream signs remain a familiar sight around town and serve as a reminder of one of Springfield's longest-running local businesses. Sometimes the best roadside landmarks aren't giant neon signs—they're the places that generations of families have been stopping at for years.
UPDATE: Mel-O-Cream Donuts remains in business, operating three retail locations in Springfield while continuing its large-scale wholesale baking and distribution business. The familiar retro signs continue to welcome customers today. 07-26
Abandoned Ice Cream Stand signage
Morton, OH Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Traveled to this tiny pretty much non-existent town of Morton and spotted an old neon sign that simply said "Eat", a true classic of yesterday's road side travels. I stopped to inspect this place. It looked like it had been abandoned for years, but was left as if it were to open for the next season which never came.
The sandwich price of $1.50 and the 80's style Pepsi sign and grass in front of the ordering windows are very telling of a place that has sat still for a number of years. Inside you could still see a 1950's starburst clock, a flower vase, and cups ready for service. It was probably closed in a very clean condition.
What you see over the equipment are the acoustic asbestos ceiling panels that had started to come down, some of had dissolved almost to a pasty powder on top of the machines.
There was a blond wood 50's era display case that I could not get a photograph of. I see a lot of abandoned buildings in my travels but rarely one that was left 100% intact especially an ice cream stand as the equipment is always sold off for further trading. I was unable to find a name for this place, probably something like Morton Ice Cream. It looks to have been built in the mid 1950's and all these years later it is still miles from anywhere. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 10-10
Abandoned building
Morton, OH Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Inside, a starburst clock, flower vase, cups, and a blond-wood display case remained alongside the serving equipment. Fallen ceiling panels covered parts of the machinery, but otherwise the stand appeared remarkably intact. Its appearance suggested a mid-1950s building, although the business name and operating dates couldn’t be established.
UPDATE: The stand’s recent condition has not been confirmed. This photograph records its weathered signs and unusually complete interior, a quiet roadside scene that leaves you wondering when the last customer ordered a cone and why nobody returned to open the windows. 07-26
Old pricing from yesteryear Morton, OH Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Starburst clock and pasty powder
Morton, OH Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Abandoned Ice Cream Stand signage
Abandoned building
