Royal Blue Shoes
Nephi, UT Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Check out the Royal Blue Shoes ghost sign on the Chas. Foote & Sons building in Nephi, Utah. The paint has faded, but the lettering and shoe graphics still give this old wall plenty to look at. Apparently, these shoes are not quite ready to walk off into the past.
General stores once advertised the brands they carried right on their outside walls. No separate billboard needed when there was a whole side of a building waiting for a sales pitch.
UPDATE: Chas. Foote & Sons is long gone, but the Royal Blue Shoes advertisement appears to remain visible on the historic building. 06-26
Mobil Gas
Boise, ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Check out this old ghost sign in Boise, Idaho. Mobilgas appears to be the most noticeable name, but look closer and other lettering peeks through the faded paint. There is even a reference to a steel-related business. Quite a collection of advertisements sharing one brick wall, with each layer trying to get a word in. 08-06
New advertisements were often painted directly over older ones as businesses changed. Years of sun and weather gradually wore through the newer paint, uncovering names that had been hidden for decades. Now it takes a little staring to sort out which letters belong together. Almost like a roadside crossword, except some of the clues have washed away.
UPDATE: The downtown building remains standing, although the current visibility of these layered advertisements is uncertain. The exact identities and dates of the older signs have not been confirmed. 06-26
Mountaineer Overalls
Virginia, ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Check out the faded Mountaineer Overalls advertisement on this old building in Virginia, Idaho. Years of weather have worn away the paint, but the lettering still catches the eye along the roadside. The sign even promises “Stop Loss Pockets.” Handy when a day’s work involves bending over and watching everything fall out. 08-06
Produced by Utah’s ZCMI, Mountaineer Overalls outfitted farmers, railroad workers, miners and others who needed clothes that could take a beating. This painted wall did the advertising long before a glowing roadside sign was needed.
UPDATE: The building remains standing, with the old workwear advertisement still visible on its exterior. The paint is faded, but those pockets are still making their sales pitch. 06-26
Kodak
Boise, ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
This ghost sign in Boise advertises both an old drug store and Kodak Film. Back when film photography was king, the local drug store was often the place to buy film, drop off your rolls, and pick up your prints a few days later.
The faded lettering is a reminder of those days. While the drug store is long gone, the sign still provides a glimpse into a time when Kodak products could be found just about everywhere. For travelers and photographers alike, film was simply part of everyday life. 08-06
UPDATE: The building remains standing in downtown Boise and has been repurposed for modern commercial use. The current status of the Kodak ghost sign could not be verified. 06-26
Baseball Cigar Store
Pocatello, ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
This old ghost sign for the Baseball Cigar Store still endures in Pocatello. The wall also says, "Sweet's Salt Lake Chocolates are always appreciated."
The layered lettering is what makes this one interesting. You can see pieces of different advertisements sharing the same brick wall, almost like the building is holding onto more than one story at once. Cigars and chocolates may seem like an unusual combination today, but both were clearly worth advertising in big painted letters back in the day. 09-06
UPDATE: The Baseball Cigar Store is long gone, but the historic building remains standing in downtown Pocatello. The painted ghost signs for the cigar store and Sweet's chocolates still survive on the brick wall. 06-26
Lee Riders
Logan, UT Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Check out the ghost sign on the side of this clothing store. This store used to feature Lee Riders, advertised here as "authentic cowboy pants."
The old Lee Riders lettering gives the building a great western feel. Back when this sign was painted, cowboy pants were not just a fashion statement. They were work clothes built for ranchers, rodeo riders, and anyone else who needed something rugged enough to hold up.
The faded advertisement is a nice reminder of when clothing stores promoted their brands right on the side of the building. Lee Riders may still be around in one form or another, but this old wall sign belongs to a different era of downtown retail. 09-06
UPDATE: The building remains part of Logan's historic downtown district. The Lee Riders ghost sign may still be visible today, though its current condition could not be verified. 06-26
Daynes Jewelry Co.
Salt Lake City, UT Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The giant Daynes Jewelry Co. advertisement covers much of the side of Salt Lake City’s historic Daft Block. “Established 1862,” “Diamonds” and “Watches” still make their sales pitch in oversized painted letters. No tiny storefront sign needed here. 09-06
Built in the late 1880s for businesswoman Sarah A. Daft, the building was purchased by the Daynes family in 1908. Pioneer jeweler John Daynes was even known as Brigham Young’s personal watchmaker. Quite a customer to have on the books.
UPDATE: The historic building remains standing and in commercial use. Its enormous painted jewelry advertisement survives as one of downtown Salt Lake City’s familiar ghost signs. 06-26
Royal Blue Shoes
Mobil Gas
Mountaineer Overalls
Kodak
Baseball Cigar Store
Lee Riders
Daynes Jewelry Co.
