Office Depot (Rem.)
Wenatchee, WA Photo courtesy
Darren Haney
Many people probably drove right past Office Depot thinking it was just another big-box store. A quick look up at the roof, though, revealed one of Wenatchee's most unusual roadside attractions. Photo courtesy Darren Haney.
This building began life as a fruit warehouse, a reminder of Wenatchee's long history as apple country. Sitting high above the roof was the famous Skookum sign, a giant animated figure that had been turning heads since it was built in 1921. It originally overlooked downtown from the Wenatchee Hotel before finding a new home here, where its glowing eyes and mechanical wink became a familiar sight for motorists.
The giant sign was an unexpected sight above an Office Depot. It looked more at home in the days when colorful rooftop signs competed for the attention of passing drivers. Even if you had no need for paper clips or printer ink, the Skookum sign was worth slowing down for.
Office Depot Animated Sign Close-up Wenatchee, WA Photo courtesy
Darren Haney
To the right is a three frame shot of the "animated" Indian (Native American) head on the Office Depot in Wenatchee, WA. It's a double-sided
sign. The eyes move back and forth several times, slow down, stop, and
then it winks. The eyes appear to be attached to some sort of pendulum
mechanism. Many thanks to Darren Haney for info.
UPDATE: Office Depot remains open in the former fruit warehouse, but the Skookum sign was removed from the roof in June 2022 for preservation. The 101-year-old landmark survives in storage while local groups continue looking for a permanent home where it can once again watch over Wenatchee. 07-26
Farley's Florist (Gone)
Tacoma, WA Photo courtesy Lauren Freeland
The giant letters across the front of Farley's Florist made this Tacoma flower shop hard to miss. They stretched across the building in true mid-century fashion, proving that even a neighborhood florist deserved a sign with a little personality. Photo courtesy Lauren Freeland.
Farley's opened here in 1955 and became a familiar stop along 6th Avenue. The flowers may have changed with the seasons, but those oversized letters remained a constant for decades, welcoming customers looking for everything from roses to corsages and holiday arrangements.
UPDATE: The flower shop is still in business under the name Williams Flower & Gift, but the original Farley's lettering has been removed from the building. 07-26
Franz Bakery
Portland, OR Photo courtesy
Security Signs of Portland, OR
The giant spinning loaf atop Franz Bakery has been making Portland drivers hungry for generations. Rising above the bakery roof, it's one of those wonderfully quirky roadside signs that's impossible to forget. If you're anywhere nearby, chances are you'll spot the loaf before you smell the fresh bread. Photo courtesy Security Signs of Portland, OR. The loaf for Franz Bakery is at Northeast 12th Avenue and Flanders Street in Portland.
Franz Bakery has been part of Portland since 1906, and its sprawling bakery has occupied this neighborhood for well over a century. The famous rotating loaf was added in the 1950s and quickly became one of the city's best-known landmarks. Watching it slowly turn above the glowing FRANZ letters has been a Portland tradition for decades.
Franz Bakery
Portland, OR Photo courtesy
Security Signs of Portland, OR
The sign has even survived windstorms and restoration projects, always returning to the skyline where it belongs. It's the kind of landmark that reminds you how much fun advertising could be when businesses weren't afraid to think big.
It revolves once every 4 ½ minutes. It has been rotating for nearly
5 decades. The motor is about the size of
a washing machine motor. The whole loaf weighs about 5,000 and is formed
from white acrylic and is supported inside from interior angle irons.
Three hundred pounds of ballast keep it balanced. It has been damaged
by storms and repaired and updated a couple of times such as having the
tie added to the front, but it keeps on turning 24/7 at the Franz Bakery.
A landmark in Portland, OR built by Security Signs. Many thanks to Security Signs of Portland for info.
UPDATE: Franz Bakery continues baking at its longtime Portland plant, and the famous spinning loaf still turns above the roof after a careful restoration. 07-26
Hertz Car Rental (Gone)
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Jeff
Raber
Back when downtown rental car offices were common, Hertz Car Rental had one of the more distinctive signs in Portland. Rising above the sidewalk was a classic mid-century sign topped with a clock, the kind of roadside detail that caught your eye whether you needed a rental car or not.
The downtown Hertz office served travelers and business customers for many years, and the clock sign became a familiar sight along Pine Street. Whether it actually kept perfect time or not, it certainly looked the part and added a little extra character to the neighborhood.
UPDATE: The downtown Hertz branch has closed, and the vintage clock sign has been removed. Hertz continues serving Portland from other locations, including Portland International Airport. 07-26
Troy Laundry Company (Gone)
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
The enormous Troy Laundry Company letters gave Seattle’s South Lake Union skyline a little extra personality. Perched above the laundry plant, the neon advertised something considerably more ordinary than the grand rooftop display suggested. Apparently, washing shirts deserved a sign you could spot from blocks away.
Established around 1905, Troy moved into its ornate Fairview Avenue building in 1927. By 1948, it was the Pacific Northwest’s largest laundry operation. Look closely at the surviving entrance and you’ll find a woman’s head in the terra cotta decoration, thought to represent Helen of Troy.
UPDATE: Most of the building was demolished in 2013, but its historic facade became part of the Troy Block office development. The rooftop sign was saved and moved indoors, where laundry artifacts help tell the property’s story. Thankfully, those oversized letters didn’t end up with the demolition debris. 07-26
Zeller Chapel of the Roses Funeral Home
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Jeff
Raber
The oversized “Z” above Zeller Chapel of the Roses Funeral Home makes this Northeast Broadway landmark easy to recognize. The tall sign has the bold simplicity that made roadside advertising of the 1950s so effective. You notice the letter first and read the rest as you get closer.
Property records date the chapel building to 1954, placing it squarely in the era reflected by the sign. There’s a fitting detail beyond the marquee, too. The chapel’s rose garden has received recognition from Portland’s rose gardening community, giving the name a connection to the grounds.
UPDATE: Zeller continues operating at 2107 Northeast Broadway. Its roadside sign has been updated from the version shown here, but the prominent “Z” remains a familiar marker along the street. 07-26
Office Depot (Rem.)
Office Depot Animated Sign Close-up
Farley's Florist (Gone)
Franz Bakery
Franz Bakery
Hertz Car Rental (Gone)
Troy Laundry Company (Gone)
Zeller Chapel of the Roses Funeral Home
