Bear
Twin Falls, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Not quite sure what's painted on the side of this building other than the word Bear in Twin Falls, Idaho. The mystery is really what makes this one interesting. The remaining lettering is visible enough to catch your eye, but not enough to tell the full story. Was it part of a business name, a product advertisement, or something else entirely?

Ghost signs like this can be frustrating and fascinating at the same time. Sometimes only a word or two survives, leaving the rest to imagination. This one still leaves me wondering what the full sign once said. 09-06

UPDATE: The current status of the Bear ghost sign could not be verified. It is unknown whether the painted lettering still survives today. 06-26

I C Glosz Furs
Salt Lake City, UT
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The side of this store still prominently displays the lettering for I.C. Glosz Furs. This is the kind of ghost sign that makes you stop and wonder about the business behind it. Furriers were once a common sight in downtown shopping districts, catering to customers looking for coats, collars, hats, and other luxury items. Today, signs for businesses like this are much harder to find.

The weathered lettering has survived remarkably well and continues to advertise a company that disappeared long ago. It's a nice reminder of how different downtown retail districts once looked and the variety of specialty shops that filled them. 09-06

UPDATE: The I.C. Glosz Furs ghost sign remains visible in Salt Lake City. Although the fur business is long gone, the painted advertisement survives as one of the city's more unusual reminders of an earlier era of downtown commerce. 06-26

Hyland Motor Company Hupmobiles
Salt Lake City, UT
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Here is a ghost sign treasure in Salt Lake City. Hyland Motor Company advertised Hupmobiles, built by the Hupp Motor Company from 1909 to 1940. Not a name you will find on a new-car lot these days. 09-06

The faded lettering recalls when dealers painted their sales pitches right on the building. While the cars disappeared, this old wall kept advertising them.

UPDATE: The Hyland Motor Company sign remains visible in downtown Salt Lake City, outlasting both the dealership and the Hupmobile brand. 06-26

Wrigley Gum
Brigham City, UT
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Check out the Wrigley’s Gum ghost sign in Brigham City. “At Every Meal Wrigley’s P.K. Chewing Sweet — The Flavor Lasts,” promises the old advertisement. Quite a sales pitch to spread across a whole wall. 09-06

The flavor may be long gone, but the painted lettering has certainly lasted. Enough remains to catch the eye while wandering through downtown.

UPDATE: The Wrigley’s P.K. advertisement remains visible in downtown Brigham City, still making its weathered sales pitch. 06-26

The Greenewald Furniture Co.
Salt Lake City, UT
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Check out the old Greenewald Furniture Co. lettering stretching up the side of this Salt Lake City building. The faded advertisement made good use of all that brick, giving downtown shoppers a name to look for before they reached the showroom. No separate billboard needed here. 09-06

Founded in 1902, the company operated along old West Broadway, where furniture stores and manufacturers clustered within a few blocks of one another. Greenewald remained here until the late 1920s, but its painted sales pitch hung on long after the furniture business disappeared.

UPDATE: The historic building remains standing and has been adapted for modern commercial use. The old furniture advertisement no longer appears to be visible on the wall. 06-26

Hotel Whitman
Pocatello, ID
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Hotel Whitman of Pocatello, Idaho was first built in 1905 and once housed the Princess Theater and Eagles Lodge. Later the building was renovated to a hotel. The Hotel Whitman was formerly called the Hotel Nicollet. 09-06

The Hotel Whitman has been a fixture in downtown Pocatello for well over a century. Originally constructed in 1905, the building has served a variety of purposes over the years, including housing the Eagles Lodge, the Princess Theater, and several hotel operations under different names.

The structure was expanded in the early 1910s and opened as the Hotel St. Marie before later becoming the Hotel Nicollet and eventually the Hotel Whitman. After falling into decline during the late 20th century, the building was saved through a major rehabilitation effort that preserved one of downtown Pocatello's historic commercial blocks. 09-06

UPDATE: The building remains standing and has been successfully repurposed into apartments and commercial space. The historic ghost sign is still visible, and portions of the property's vintage signage have been preserved as part of the restoration. 06-26