Cadillac Building
Detroit, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
This old Cadillac Building dates back to the early 20th Century. The building is now part of Wayne State University and is on Cass near the corner of Burroughs. See more photos and information on this Detroit gem at Roadside Peek'sSpotlight on the Cadillac Building.09-10
Here's the Spencerville Covered Bridge in Spencerville, IN. Spanning the St. Joseph River, this bright red covered bridge is the kind of roadside stop that's hard to pass by. With its weathered timbers and classic design, it looks much the same as it did when it was built back in 1873.
The bridge was built by John A. McKay using the Smith truss design, a style that's become pretty rare over the years. In fact, it's the only historic covered bridge still standing in DeKalb County and one of just a handful of Smith truss bridges left in Indiana.
Like many old covered bridges, this one has picked up a few stories along the way, including a local tale about a semi-truck getting stuck inside years ago. True or not, it's easy to see why drivers take it slow. 09-10
UPDATE: The bridge closed in 2018 for major repairs but reopened in 2021 after a careful restoration that included a new white oak floor. It's still carrying traffic today and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2023. 07-26
Covered Bridge
Spencerville, IN Photos and info courtesy Richard Weiss
Covered Bridge
Spencerville, IN Photos and info courtesy Richard Weiss
Strong Building
Beloit, WI Photo courtesy Kelly Sullivan
Here's the Strong Building in Beloit, WI. This colorful Art Deco office building has been turning heads downtown since 1929 with its glazed terra cotta exterior, decorative details, and clean geometric lines. It's one of those buildings that's worth looking up to appreciate all the little touches. 09-10
Designed by the Chicago firm of Oman & Lilienthal, the four-story building was funded through the estate of local philanthropist William Barstow Strong. It's considered Beloit's finest example of Art Deco architecture and is one of only two glazed terra cotta buildings in Rock County listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Strong Building has seen plenty of history over the years, including serving as the longtime business headquarters for the band R.E.M. before the group retired. That's not something you'd expect to find tucked away in downtown Beloit.
UPDATE: The building is still standing and looking better than ever after a major exterior restoration was completed in 2026. The project carefully repaired and restored its distinctive Art Deco details, helping preserve one of Beloit's architectural treasures. 07-26
Witte Hardware Company Building (Closed)
St Louis, MO Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Here's the old Witte Hardware Company Building in St. Louis, MO. Sitting along the riverfront, this massive brick warehouse is the kind of building that instantly grabs your attention. The faded "Witte Hardware Company" ghost sign still stretches across the upper floors, giving you a pretty good idea of what the building was built for. 06-07
Constructed in the early 1900s, the warehouse served as the headquarters and distribution center for Witte Hardware, one of St. Louis' longtime wholesale hardware companies. Built with heavy timber beams and thick brick walls, it was designed to handle just about anything the company could throw at it.
By the time these photos were taken, the surrounding streets were unusually quiet, making it easy to imagine what this area must have looked like when freight wagons and railcars kept the warehouse busy. A sign out front announced plans to convert the building into condominiums, joining the growing effort to bring new life back to the old warehouse district.
The ghost sign is really the star here. It's always fun finding old painted advertisements that have managed to outlast the businesses they once promoted. They add a lot of personality to buildings that might otherwise blend into the background.
UPDATE: The building was ultimately restored rather than converted entirely into condos. Today it houses a mix of offices, creative businesses, and commercial space, while the old Witte Hardware ghost sign still survives as one of the most recognizable features of the building. 07-26
Grunden Martin (Gone)
St Louis, MO Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Here's the old Crunden-Martin Manufacturing Company warehouse complex in St. Louis, MO. Sitting just south of the Gateway Arch, these massive brick warehouses once dominated the riverfront. By the time this photo was taken, most of the surrounding buildings were vacant, giving the area a quiet, almost forgotten feel. 06-07
The company got its start in the late 1800s and grew into one of the country's largest manufacturers of household goods. Over the years, the factories produced everything from buckets and mops to kites and military supplies during World War II.
One of the most recognizable features was the enclosed skybridge connecting buildings across the street. Along with the painted Crunden-Martin signs on the brick walls, it gave the complex a distinctive look that was hard to mistake.
Back in 2007, there was hope that this old warehouse district might eventually find a new purpose. With so many solid brick buildings still standing, it seemed like a good candidate for redevelopment, much like other warehouse districts around the country.
Grunden Martin (Gone)
St Louis, MO Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Unfortunately, that wasn't the way the story ended. A massive five-alarm fire swept through the abandoned complex in late 2025, destroying much of what had survived for decades. The remaining structures were demolished soon afterward, bringing an end to one of St. Louis' most recognizable industrial landmarks.
UPDATE: The Crunden-Martin complex is gone. Following the devastating 2025 fire, the remaining buildings—including the iconic skybridge—were demolished in 2026 to clear the site for future redevelopment. 07-26
Tom Sawyer Fence
Hannibal, MO Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss
Here's the famous Tom Sawyer Fence in Hannibal, MO. If you've ever read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, this fence probably looks familiar. It's a recreation of the one where Tom famously convinced the neighborhood boys to pay for the privilege of doing his chores. Not a bad deal if you can pull it off. 07-08
The fence sits outside the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, just a short walk from the house where Samuel Clemens grew up. While the original fence disappeared long ago, this recreation helps bring one of the most memorable scenes in American literature to life.
Visitors are even encouraged to pick up a paintbrush and try a little whitewashing themselves. It's a fun photo opportunity and one that usually brings a smile, whether you've read the book recently or not.
Hannibal has done a nice job preserving the places that inspired Mark Twain's stories, and the fence is one of the simplest—and most recognizable—stops in town. Sometimes all it takes is a few boards and a bucket of white paint to bring back a childhood memory.
UPDATE: The recreated Tom Sawyer Fence remains part of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum and continues to be a favorite stop for visitors. If you're lucky, you might even catch one of the annual whitewashing events while you're in town. 07-26
Witte Hardware Company Building (Closed)
Grunden Martin (Gone)
Back in 2007, there was hope that this old warehouse district might eventually find a new purpose. With so many solid brick buildings still standing, it seemed like a good candidate for redevelopment, much like other warehouse districts around the country.
Tom Sawyer Fence
