Ghost signs have been found on the side of a wood-paneled building in Lakeview. As workers prepared to renovate the site, and siding was removed from the building, old ads dating back to the 50s were revealed.
The building, located at 3609 N. Ravenswood Ave., hid well-preserved advertisements for Shell oil, Ward’s Soft Bun Bread (AKA Wonder Bread), and various car services. The ads date somewhere between 1948 and 1955. These vintage ads were unknowingly preserved by siding which has since been removed from the building.
The building itself has cycled through various businesses over the years, going from a plumbing factory to a pet daycare in the last 20 years. The building went up for sale in March and was promptly sold. Now, it will become a six-story development complete with over 50 residential units and retail on the ground floor.
Professor and author, Bill Savage, tweeted out images of these ghost signs, offering a glimpse at a time long passed. Another rare tidbit, apparently it’s odd to see signs so well preserved on wood as they were typically seen on brick buildings, and made with paint that was not meant to last. Before the demolition takes place, head over to the old building to get a glimpse of the unique vintage ads, dubbed ‘ghost sings’ by locals.
ATTENTION Chicago ghost sign fans. I was tipped off re: these beautiful newly exposed ads. On wood, which is really rare. No idea when new siding will go on. 3609 N. Ravenswood. @whet @robertloerzel @ChiGhostSigns @tewhalen @ForgottenChi pic.twitter.com/XroziWHjlQ
— Bill Savage (@RogersParkMan) July 17, 2022
Address: 3609 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
[Featured photo via: Bill Savage/@rogersparkman]