There are quite a few Route 1s in the US, but there's a little stretch of Route 1 in Massachusetts that has a whole host of vintage and cool signs. My friend Bob knows how much I love signs so she braved the fierce traffic and took me on a photography tour one lovely afternoon.
Bob told me that she's been driving this route for years and has gradually noticed the old motels and restaurants going by way of the bulldozer. She thought we'd better photograph the signs before they were all gone. I couldn't have agreed more.
The Fern and Chisholm are both up and running, although the Chisholm seems to have been kept up a lot better than the Fern. I just love the retro looking chairs outside the doors. It took nearly everything I had not to have a seat!
Loved this sign and the mini golf. There were dinosaurs and a humpty dumpty and a hippo. The big orange dinosaur was right by the road, so it was a bit iconic.
I thought I'd get a good shot of the sign on the side of the building, but my friends, Bob in blue and Tara in pink, thought they'd be funny and tried to cover up the orange beast.
By the way, the ice cream at the Dairy Castle was really good!
Finally they gave up and just decided to feed dino boy instead.
We had a great time in the 100ยบ heat on that crazy road. We really did.
Karla's Shoes was a place that Bob said she'd visited a few times, but clearly Karla has shut down.
This motel sign is on the way out. The motel has already been razed but the sign is still there for now. This was one of the first signs I photographed on our Route 1 tour and I really think it was one of my favorites in this batch.
I have about a dozen more signs and buildings, but I think I'll save them for next week. I have more favorites still to come.
Thanks so much for stopping by my place for this edition of Sundays in my City -- or in my case, the city that I visited on my Scion Road Trip 2011. Unknown Mami is our lovely host for SIMC so be sure and head on over there for more Sunday cities. Thanks Mami!!
Have a great day!
Kristin
Oh FUN! I love old signs too! I esp love your mini golf sign and the Karla's one!
ReplyDeleteI love the signs, they have so much character, unlike the signs around here.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
This looks like a great photo hunt. You got wonderful photos of these old signs.
ReplyDeleteSome GREAT signs and silly friends - - - I bet it made for pure delight!!!
ReplyDeleteI once travelled up Route 1A from Boston to Portsmouth, NH. Its dotted with the old old old New England homes and landscapes. Give it your photographic ride next time. You won't be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteYour photos really made me smile. I live in Santa Barbara which is very much a tourist town. We have hotel and motel signs everywhere. I never thought to really stop and read them and photograph them.
ReplyDeleteActually, there is just one Route 1 : ) It's a major east coast highway running from northern Maine to Key West Florida.
ReplyDeleteI think I like the Motel sign the best too. Love the perspective from the bottom of the sign, shooting for the top!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness you go on the best outings! love these shots!!
ReplyDeleteI really like the goofing around pictures. If I'm lucky I get my family to take one of me goofing off.
ReplyDeleteYou have a very good sense for interesting photos.
Last year I started a blog game with one. (game didn't generate much interest but the pictures are fun)
http://afcsoac.blogspot.com/2010/03/want-to-start-something-with-me.html
I love New England. In my mind I live there when times are tough. And vintage signs are so cool. I am from New Orleans, where tough times for the past 30-40 years meant no one changed the signs. Lots of cool vintage signs around that funky town too.
ReplyDeleteThese are really cool! I like your favorite, too. The angle is just so artistic. I bet it will look great printed on the metallic paper and matted up. Surely it will be a hit in your Etsy shop.
ReplyDeleteI really like the photo along the front of the hotel. And THOSE CHAIRS! The bit of rust on the bottom adds enough vintage charm (as if they needed any help) to send me right over the top. Love them!
ReplyDeleteThe shot of the chairs is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteLove the signs. Looks like you had a great time. Certainly a lot of laughs!!
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