Greyhound Bus
Salinas, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Here's the old Greyhound Bus Station in downtown Salinas. The running greyhound looks especially sharp on the projecting marquee, ready to race off even if the next bus is running late. At the time, there was talk of replacing the station with a hotel, leaving the future of this grand old sign uncertain. 02-06

Built around 1950, the depot served generations of travelers making their way through the Salinas Valley. Its location in the heart of downtown made it a familiar departure point for residents and a first glimpse of Salinas for visitors stepping off the bus.

The corner marquee was the real roadside attraction. Blue Greyhound lettering stretched across the canopy while the familiar running-dog emblem projected above the sidewalk. When the neon was glowing, there was little doubt where to catch the next bus. It was the kind of transportation sign that made even an ordinary bus station feel like a gateway to somewhere else.

Greyhound Bus
Salinas, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

UPDATE: Unfortunately, word is that this Greyhound station may be moved to make way for a hotel proposal. If this goes through, it is unsure what would happen to this grand marquee. 02-06

UPDATE: Greyhound left the building in March 2015 and moved its passenger service to the Salinas Intermodal Transportation Center. The proposed hotel never replaced the old depot, and the building survived under new ownership. Unfortunately, the Greyhound marquee and running-dog emblem were removed after the station closed. Whether the sign was saved or scrapped remains unknown. 09-26

Pioneer Mercantile Co. (Gone)
Bakersfield, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

There is not one, not two, but three old signs advertising Pioneer Mercantile Co. in downtown Bakersfield. Two blade marquees project from the building while a third sign rests against the wall. Together they made sure shoppers approaching from nearly any direction knew they had reached the right place.

All three signs were showing their age after years of baking in the hot Central Valley sun. The faded paint, weathered metal, and old lettering fit this longtime hardware store rather well. A shiny new plastic sign probably would have looked out of place on a business that had already been around for more than a century.

Pioneer Mercantile Co.
Bakersfield, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Pioneer Mercantile traced its roots to the late 1800s and grew into one of Kern County's oldest commercial businesses. Locals remembered it as the kind of hardware store that carried just about everything. Its shelves and warehouses held farm equipment, industrial pipe, sheet metal, electrical supplies, household hardware, and plenty of odd parts that were hard to find anywhere else.

The company's original downtown building was destroyed during the 1952 Kern County earthquake. Pioneer Mercantile rebuilt in 1953 and continued serving Bakersfield's farmers, contractors, oil workers, and backyard repair experts. Ralph Barker Sr. managed the rebuilt store for nearly 50 years, becoming almost as familiar to customers as the merchandise.

Pioneer Mercantile Co.
Bakersfield, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The company also wandered into broadcasting during the 1930s, operating radio stations W6XAI and KPMC. The KPMC call letters stood for Pioneer Mercantile Company. The store is also credited with selling some of Kern County's first air-conditioning units in 1927. Considering the Bakersfield heat, that may have been one of the most useful products ever placed on its shelves.

UPDATE: Pioneer Mercantile closed in 2012 after more than 120 years in business. The 1953 building survives with antique vendors and other commercial uses inside. Portions of the old painted lettering and weathered signage remain visible around the property. 09-26