Meeting a friend for brunch on the east side of town gave me good reason to drive around the area east of downtown Houston (east of Minute Maid Park, for baseball fans!). I wish I knew the back story behind this building, which appears to be empty, and its ghost signs.
Among the words I can make out are “No dust. No dirt.” And: “5 ¢.” “Metro.” Odd combo.
(Taken with instagram, with no filter.)
At last, pleased to add this pic to my ghost sign series! … Had time today to drive by this building – the former Waddell House Furnishing Co. building – before I leave this side of Houston. Sadly, it’s a disused building. What future does it have?
Bonus: captured a bird in flight!
(Taken with instagram, with gotham filter.)
Roadtrip adventures, continued …
This pair of attached buildings in Shiner, Texas, just earned my top spot for favorite ghost sign, so far. The building on the left, covered in nailed-on sheets of painted tin, says, among other things, “Feed Store,” “Purina Chows,” and “BABY CHICKS.” The building on the right was a “hatchery,” per its sign. Seriously awesome, no?
Roadtrip adventures, continued:
A faint “J PLACE” ghost sign – painted on the side of the dilapidated wood building – remains behind the “CHUDEJ PLACE COLD DRINKS” and “PEPSI-COLA” metal signs. Very cool.
(Location: On Highway 90, somewhere between Schulenburg and Flatonia, Texas.)
Roadtrip adventures, continued:
Whoever designed the wood ornamentation on this door had to do so around the existing old metal hardware. I *love* this.
In Schulenburg, Texas.
Afternoon view: Blanket of white azaleas outside the library. (Taken with Instagram at Heights Library)
Okay, last shot of that same site from this evening’s walk downtown. This pic shows the open space / parking lot between the two other buildings (the ones with the ghost signs). A relic – the word “shoes” – is intact in the terrazzo (beneath the metal barricade). The tile in the area to the left of this spot is different, leading me to think two or three narrow stores once sat on this site. Bonus: See that red brick building in the background? I used to live in a loft there.