Vanishing Americana

Hudson, WY
January 2012

Billboards were once painted on the sides of buildings all across America, and the few remaining are vanishing before our eyes. Last week, I stopped to capture some fading bits of Americana in my area.

Husdon, WY
January 2012

This is the other side of the building which is even more interesting. The left side of the photo shows a the ghostly SINCLAIR painted over the previous business' sign. At the top, I think it says, "D. J. Gaspersttn" or "D.J. Gasperstti" and then HUDSON, which is the name of the town. The campaign ad to the right is from several years ago, and I have no doubt that it will remain there until it, too, fades away.

Hudson, WY
January 2012

Across the street/highway is this building. I've lived in this area off and on nearly all of my life, and I don't remember this building renting rooms or having any residents.

Despite these remnants of the past, the small town of Hudson is well-known for two steak restaurants, Svilar's (still serving meals) and Club El Toro (now closed). Those two establishments, especially the Club El Toro, had live bands on the weekends, and it was frequently difficult to find a place to park. While Svilar's has a bar, I don't think it has live bands, but I am not sure.

Some online reviews of Svilar's are here and here. I don't have a clue why the last review is listed under Jackson Hole restaurants since Hudson is quite a distance from Jackson.

Hudson has other outdoor paintings that I which can be seen in this 2008 post.

Does your area have old, painted billboards that are vanishing or other distinct pockets of Americana (barns, silos, Victorian houses, etc.)? Make a point to capture these American icons in photographs before they disappear in the name of progress.