Abbott Hotel (Gone)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Dennis Dixson
Here's the Abbott Hotel in Chicago, IL. The old sign is what makes this place memorable, proudly advertising "Color TV" and "Free TV and Air" as if those were the hottest amenities in town. It's a fun reminder of a time when roadside hotels competed with simple promises instead of free Wi-Fi and streaming services.
For many years, the Abbott operated as a small downtown hotel, offering modest rooms to travelers and long-term residents alike. It wasn't a fancy place, but the old signs gave it plenty of personality and made it stand out along Belmont Avenue.
Sometimes it's the little details that make an old hotel interesting. Those faded advertisements tell you exactly when they were painted, even if nobody bothered to include the date.
UPDATE: The Abbott Hotel has been completely renovated and converted into apartments. Unfortunately, the classic "Color TV" and "Free TV and Air" signs disappeared during the renovation, leaving old photos as a reminder of this quirky roadside survivor. 07-26
New Jackson Hotel (Gone)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Here's the New Jackson Hotel in Chicago, IL. The old neon blade sign is what catches your eye first, hanging from the corner of the building and lighting up Jackson Boulevard. It's the kind of sign that probably welcomed generations of travelers passing through the city. 07-07
Opened in 1878, the New Jackson stood along the original Route 66 alignment through downtown Chicago. Over the years it became a modest hotel and later one of the last surviving single-room occupancy hotels from Chicago's old Skid Row district.
As the surrounding neighborhood changed, the hotel eventually closed and was given a new life. Fortunately, the building itself survived, even if one of its best features didn't.
UPDATE: The old hotel has been restored and converted into apartments with commercial space on the first floor. Unfortunately, the vintage neon New Jackson Hotel sign has been removed, leaving only old photographs to remember one of Chicago's classic hotel signs. 07-26
Elkton Hotel (Gone)
Quincy, IL Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Here's the Elkton Hotel in Quincy, IL. The old neon sign does a great job of pointing the way to this five-story downtown landmark. Signs like this were built to catch your eye from a block away, and this one probably welcomed plenty of travelers over the years. The building is also home to The Patio Restaurant and its well known charcoal steaks. 09-08
The building opened in 1924 as the Quincy Elks Club before later becoming the Hotel Elk, eventually taking on the name Elkton Hotel. Downstairs, The Patio Restaurant became a longtime local favorite, earning quite a reputation for its charcoal-grilled steaks and fried chicken.
UPDATE: The Hotel Elkton will no longer be a hotel as its being converted into apartments. With the conversion, the hotel lobby no longer has its 24-hour desk postions. The Patio Restaurant which is on the first floor will remain open for busieness. The hotel will now be referred to as the Elkton Apartments. For more information about this converstion to apartments, see this website. 12-10
UPDATE: The Hotel Elkton was home to a five-alarm fire iin December 2014. Fortunately, the fire was contained to one apartment. For more information about the fire, see here. 12-14
Like many downtown hotels, the Elkton eventually outlived its days as a place for overnight travelers. Fortunately, the building itself survived and has continued serving the community in a different role.
UPDATE: Following a major fire in 2014, the building was restored and converted into apartments. The Patio Restaurant has also returned, but unfortunately the vintage hotel sign is no longer around. 07-26
Plaza Hotel (Demolished)
Gary, IN Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi
Here's the Plaza Hotel in Gary, IN. By the time these photos were taken, the hotel had clearly seen better days, but it still had plenty of character. The corner view really shows how it blended into an entire block of old downtown buildings that once made this part of the city a much busier place. 10-08
The Plaza Hotel dates back to Gary's early years and served travelers for decades before eventually falling vacant. In its later years, part of the building found a new purpose as the home of God's House of Prayer church.
Movie fans might recognize the hotel as well. It appeared in the 1996 film Original Gangstas, starring Gary native Fred Williamson along with Pam Grier, Jim Brown, and Richard Roundtree. The worn-down streets and aging buildings made Gary a fitting backdrop for the film.
Even in its final years, the Plaza Hotel still looked like it had a few stories left to tell. Buildings like this gave downtown Gary plenty of personality, even after most of the guests had long since checked out.
UPDATE: Sadly, the Plaza Hotel was destroyed after a major fire and partial collapse in December 2013. The remaining structure was demolished shortly afterward, and the old hotel is now gone. 07-26
Plaza Hotel
Gary, IN Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi
Fort Barbee Hotel (Closed)
St Marys, OH Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley
Here's the Fort Barbee Hotel in St. Marys, OH. Even though the building now serves as senior housing, the old hotel still has plenty of character. When this photo was taken, the vintage neon sign was still standing out front, a nice reminder of the days when travelers checked in instead of moving in. 02-09
Built in 1921, the hotel took its name from nearby Fort Barbee, a War of 1812 fort that once stood in the area. For years it welcomed visitors to downtown St. Marys before eventually being converted into apartments for senior residents.
It's always nice to see an old hotel find a new purpose instead of disappearing. Buildings like this continue to serve the community, even if their guests are staying a little longer these days.
UPDATE: The building continues to operate as senior housing. Not sure if the old neon sign is still around, as recent photos don't clearly show whether it survived later renovations. 07-26
Harbor House Hotel (Demolished)
Sault Ste Marie, MI Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley
Here's the old Harbor House Hotel in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. This weathered wooden hotel had all the character you could ask for, along with a great old rooftop sign that had probably been welcoming travelers for decades. When this photo was taken, the building had recently sold, leaving everyone wondering what its future might be. 12-08
The hotel dated back to the 1880s and operated under several different names before becoming the Harbor House. Over the years it became a familiar landmark along Portage Avenue, and locals also remembered its basement tavern, the Happy Hideaway, better known as the "Bomb Shelter."
Unfortunately, old wooden hotels are expensive to maintain, and this one slowly fell into disrepair after it closed. Sometimes those "Sold" signs lead to a restoration. Other times, they don't.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, the Harbor House Hotel was demolished in 2023 after being declared structurally unsafe. The old building and its classic rooftop sign are gone, bringing an end to one of Sault Ste. Marie's longtime roadside landmarks. 07-26
Abbott Hotel (Gone)
Plaza Hotel (Demolished)
UPDATE: Sadly, the Plaza Hotel was destroyed after a major fire and partial collapse in December 2013. The remaining structure was demolished shortly afterward, and the old hotel is now gone. 07-26
Fort Barbee Hotel (Closed)
Harbor House Hotel (Demolished)
