Quaker Oats
Owosso, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

In Owosso, they had recently torn down a building revealing part of an old Quaker Oats sign. It appears that when the recently town down building was built, they must have plastered over the remaining exposed brick wall of the building next door and of course the Quaker Oats sign. If you look close it seems as though Quaker Oats was painted over an earlier sign. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 10-08

It looked like the exposed wall had been plastered over when the neighboring building was constructed, preserving the old advertisement beneath. If you look closely, you can even tell that the Quaker Oats sign was painted over an even older ad, giving the wall two different stories to tell.

For years, the weathered lettering was a fascinating glimpse into the city's past. It was one of those discoveries that made you wonder how many other old signs are still hiding behind brick walls, waiting to be uncovered.

The story has a happy ending. In 2023, the community carefully restored the Quaker Oats advertisement, bringing the century-old artwork back to life while preserving its place in downtown Owosso. It's always nice to see an old ghost sign get a second chance instead of fading away.

UPDATE: The restored Quaker Oats sign is once again a downtown landmark, overlooking the public plaza where the neighboring building once stood. It's a wonderful example of how an unexpected discovery can become a community treasure. 07-26

Henry George Cigar
Sheridan, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

A little fading only adds to the charm of this old Henry George Cigar ghost sign. Painted on the side of a brick building in downtown Sheridan, it's the kind of roadside find that's easy to appreciate if you enjoy old painted advertisements. 05-09.

Much of the lettering is still visible, and a closer look reveals traces of other painted ads layered on the same wall. It's a nice reminder that these old buildings often have more than one story to tell.

When this photo was taken, the building appeared to be vacant, making the weathered sign stand out even more. Sometimes the simplest ghost signs are the ones you remember the most.

UPDATE: The building is still standing, and the Henry George Cigar sign continues to weather the years. Hopefully it will remain a part of Sheridan's downtown for a long time to come. 07-26

Red Gold Tomatoes
Farmland, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Not every old-looking wall sign is actually old, but that doesn't make it any less fun to find. This colorful Red Gold Tomatoes advertisement adds a nice splash of vintage character to downtown Farmland. 05-09.

The mural celebrates Red Gold, an Indiana company that's been producing tomato products for generations. Painted in the classic "wall dog" style, it looks right at home on the side of the old brick building and fits the town perfectly.

If you're driving through Farmland, it's hard to miss. Along with a matching Pizza King mural on the opposite side, it adds a little extra hometown flavor to the downtown streetscape.

UPDATE: The Red Gold mural is still bright, colorful, and welcoming visitors to downtown Farmland. While it isn't a true ghost sign, it has all the charm of one and has become a fun piece of modern roadside Americana. 07-26

Otto Peters Drug Store (Closed)
Wayne, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Old neighborhood drugstores may be gone, but their signs have a way of sticking around. This faded Otto Peters Drug Store ghost sign still overlooks Broadway in Fort Wayne, sharing the wall with an equally classic Coca-Cola advertisement. 05-09.

The two painted signs make a great combination and give the building plenty of character. It's easy to imagine stopping here years ago for a prescription—or maybe just a five-cent Coke before heading home.

The drugstore has been gone for many years, but the old brick building has continued to find new uses. Thankfully, nobody painted over the ghost signs, allowing them to remain one of Fort Wayne's nicest reminders of its neighborhood business district.

UPDATE: The building is still standing, and both the Otto Peters Drug Store and Coca-Cola ghost signs remain visible today. They're a great reminder of the days when every neighborhood seemed to have its own corner drugstore. 07-26

Lee's Drug
Anderson, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Downtown Anderson, IN is being nicely kept up, even with the loss of many jobs. Anderson is also home to Lee's Drug Store and this great ghost sign. This ghost sign on the wall of this look to be early turn of the century building features advertising for "The justly famed General Arthur cigar", "Lee's Family Tourist" and "medicine Case". A look at this wall is a distinct throwback to the days when the old main streets of towns were the central hub for businesses. Many thanks to Alan Culley for info. 05-09

Even after all these years, the painted lettering remains surprisingly easy to read. It's easy to picture shoppers walking these same sidewalks, stopping by the neighborhood drugstore before heading on to the next business down the block.

UPDATE: The Lee Block Building is still standing, and the ghost sign remains one of downtown Anderson's most impressive pieces of painted advertising. It's a wonderful reminder of the era when walls like this served as the town's billboards. 07-26

Spearmint Gum
Cairo, IL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

There's something fitting about finding a faded Spearmint Gum ghost sign in downtown Cairo. The quiet streets and weathered buildings make it feel as though the sign has simply been waiting for someone to stop and notice it. 05-09.

The old Wrigley's advertisement still shows part of the familiar gum package, even after decades of exposure to the elements. It's a simple sign, but one that instantly takes you back to a time when painted walls were a common sight along Main Street.

Cairo has changed dramatically over the years, but signs like this help keep a small piece of its past alive. They remind us that these streets were once filled with busy storefronts, shoppers, and everyday life.

UPDATE: The ghost sign is still hanging on, although both it and the building continue to show their age. Hopefully this little piece of Wrigley's advertising history will remain part of Cairo's downtown for years to come. 07-26

Star Ham
Saginaw, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

At first, it's the words "Fixed Flavor" that catch your eye. Then you notice the rest of the old Star Ham ghost sign fading across the brick wall, a reminder of the days when painted advertisements sold everything from cigars to groceries. 07-09.

The sign promoted Armour's Star Ham, and even after decades of Michigan weather, enough of the lettering remains to make it a fun roadside find. It's the kind of advertisement that probably blended into everyday life when it was new but now stands out because so few have survived.

There's something appealing about these old food advertisements. They advertised products people bought every week, and today they offer a glimpse of what once filled neighborhood grocery stores and butcher shops.

UPDATE: The building is still standing, and the Star Ham ghost sign continues to weather the years. It's another nice reminder that some of the best roadside discoveries are hiding in plain sight. 07-26

Coke Sign
Rockford, IL
Photo courtesy Kelly Sullivan

You don't have to see bright red paint to recognize this old Coke Sign. Even after years of fading, the familiar "Enjoy Coca-Cola" lettering still stands out on the side of a brick building in Rockford. 09-10.

Look a little closer and you'll notice another piece of the sign's history. The older "Delicious and Refreshing" slogan can still be seen beneath the newer paint, creating a nice layered look that tells the story of changing Coca-Cola advertising over the years.

It's details like these that make ghost signs so much fun. A wall that once simply sold soft drinks has become a piece of roadside history, with each layer adding another chapter to the story.

UPDATE: The building is still standing, and the Coca-Cola ghost sign continues to overlook Rockford's streets. Time has faded the paint, but the familiar script is still easy to recognize. 07-26