Walter's Shoe Store (Gone)
Binghamton, NY
Photo courtesy Jay Lin

Look up while passing the corner of Front and Main Streets and there was the big rooftop sign for Walter’s Shoe Store. The old neon letters stood high above the neighborhood storefront, making sure drivers crossing into downtown Binghamton knew exactly where to find a new pair of shoes.

Walter’s was one of several independent shoe stores serving Binghamton during the city’s busy postwar shopping years. Stores like this handled everything from children’s school shoes to work boots and dress shoes, usually with someone behind the counter who knew how to find the right fit.

The sign looked as if it had been up there for quite some time. Its simple roof-mounted frame was built for visibility rather than decoration, but that is part of its charm. At night, the glowing letters must have been hard to miss from the nearby Chenango River bridges.

UPDATE: Walter’s Shoe Store is long closed and the old building has been removed or substantially altered. The rooftop neon sign is also gone. 08-26

Gene and Boots Candy (Gone)
Monroeville, PA
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

Ever get that feeling while driving down the highway where you feel like getting something sweet to eat. Well, you're in luck. In business since the 1930's, Gene and Boots Candy near Monroeville, Pennsylvania is there off the roadside to give you a sweet to munch on. And while stopping (or even driving by), check out the famous Gene & Boots Candy sign with the classic barber shop peppermint stems. Just don't count on the Precious Moment sale.

Gene & Boots got its start in 1930 when Gene Madigan and his friend “Boots” began selling popcorn and roasted peanuts outside the Coyle Theater in Charleroi. The business soon moved into handmade chocolates, fudge, hard candy and ice cream, becoming a familiar name across western Pennsylvania.

This Route 22 location made an easy candy stop for passing motorists. The unusual sign was almost as sweet as the merchandise, though that reader board advertising a Precious Moments sale might have tested even the most dedicated collector.

The company also operates a factory store along Route 51 in Perryopolis. That location looks a bit like a Bavarian gingerbread house, proving Gene & Boots has never been shy about making its candy stores look like candy stores.

UPDATE: The Monroeville roadside store and its peppermint-striped sign are gone. Gene & Boots remains in business with its Perryopolis factory store and several other western Pennsylvania locations. 08-26

Jesus Saves (Gone)
Aberdeen, MD
Photo courtesy Chris Richey

A bright neon message once greeted nighttime travelers along the highway in Aberdeen. The Jesus Saves Neon Signs pelled out its message in glowing tubes, with a large illuminated cross rising above the lettering. It was simple, direct and almost impossible to miss from the roadway.

Signs like this were common sights outside churches, missions and revival halls during the middle decades of the 20th century. They were designed to carry their message beyond the building and out toward passing motorists. By day, the exposed steel frame and tubing had a straightforward homemade appearance. After dark, the red and blue neon turned the whole display into a roadside beacon.

The sign stood somewhere along the busy Route 40 corridor through Aberdeen, also known as Philadelphia Boulevard. With truck stops, motels, diners and other highway businesses competing for attention, a tall neon cross was one way to stand out from the roadside clutter.

UPDATE: The Jesus Saves sign has been removed from the Aberdeen roadside. 08-26

Colgate Clock
Jersey City, NJ
Photo and info courtesy Paul Bauke

There was an original Colgate Clock from 1906 that was originally on a factory in Jersey City, NJ facing lower Manhattan. The 1906 clock is now located in Clarksville, IN but is currently facing risk of loss. The factory may be gone while Jersey City revitalizes its waterfront. This clock, which replaced he 1906 clock, has survived since 1924. The minute hand is almost 26 feet long, with the hour hand is at 20 feet. Many thanks to Paul Bauke for info.

The octagonal frame was patterned after the shape of Colgate’s old Octagon Soap. For decades the clock hung on the massive Colgate-Palmolive factory, keeping time for workers, ferry passengers and anyone looking across the river from Manhattan. The factory was demolished in 1985 as the Jersey City waterfront began its long transformation into offices and high-rises.

The clock was saved and placed on a freestanding structure near its original location. It was moved slightly in 2013 and received new mechanical equipment and 3,500 red LED lights in 2019. The old neon look may be gone, but this giant red clock still makes quite a sight after dark.

UPDATE: The Colgate Clock remains operational along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway near Exchange Place. The old factory is gone, but the clock celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024 and continues to face lower Manhattan. 08-26

Moyer Plumbing (Gone)
Kutztown, PA
Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf

Nothing says plumbing quite like a leaky faucet. The old sign for Moyer Plumbing & Heating Co. featured three animated neon drops falling from a spigot into a glowing splash below.

The six-foot sign was installed outside Moyer’s Main Street shop in 1958. Its animated drops stopped working around 1970 but came back to life during a $5,000 restoration in 2010. This place is located in Kutztown, PA.

UPDATE: The sign was removed and placed in storage in 2016. Moyer remains open as Moyer Total Indoor Comfort. 08-26

Village of Maxatawny Welcome
Maxatawny, PA
Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf

Here’s a friendly face welcoming travelers to Maxatawny. The Village of Maxatawny Welcome Sign features a Pennsylvania Dutch character standing above the wooden sign, complete with a wide-brimmed hat.

The sign once greeted drivers along the Route 222 corridor between Kutztown and Allentown. Its current condition is unknown.

UPDATE: It has not been confirmed whether the old Maxatawny welcome sign still stands. 08-26

Royal Flush Fleet (Gone)
Wildwoods, NJ
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

You couldn’t miss the sign for Captain Royal’s Fishing Fleet while entering Wildwood. It stood near the Rio Grande Avenue bridge, pointing vacationers toward a day of deep-sea fishing.

The Royal Flush carried groups offshore in search of fluke, sea bass and other Jersey Shore catches.

UPDATE: The old sign has been removed. Fishing trips continue from the same dock under the Cape May Lady name. 08-26