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.

Comments

  1. Our downtown area had much of the same, but as you noted they're disappearing. In our case, it's in the name of urban renewal. Hem. I like the old, painted bricks better.

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  2. Here in the Phoenix area nothing remains for very long but in the little town I lived in growing up there are many ghosts to be seen. It is a sad thing really.

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  3. I do love those painted billboards. Seattle has some - but they are new. I noticed in Philly that they had a big mural progam and were busy painting the sides of building wherever they could.

    lovely - thanks for sharing. g

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  4. Lovely pictures...yes we have a few buildings with writing on them... The town (city) has done well to preserve them.

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  5. I love your post, brings back such fun memories.

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  6. Ironically, recently the metal siding was stripped from an old buildin' on our Tiny Town Square to revel the original brick. A painter came in a painted the Old Corner Drug name and soda fountain picture that it had originally years ago.

    I love it!!! Sure brings back some grand memories of ice~cream sodas and hot fudge sundaes!!!

    God bless ya and have a spectacular day sweetie!!!

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  7. I love this bit of nostalgia...I even remember when we had fence posts with signs nailed to them! Haven't seen them in yeara either.

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  8. Not much snow there either! I love the old buildings and the old paintings and advertising! You are correct we should all be aware and take photos so it is never forgotten:)

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  9. Love the one with the dinosaur...thanks for sharing :)

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  10. Neat signs! I know there are still painted advertisements and murals on some of the buildings in our area. I just need to take time to search them out and photograph them.

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  11. One of our blogs is actually dedicated to this subject, and we've captured a few of the very same buidlings, which are here:

    http://paintedbricksofcasperwyoming.blogspot.com/2012/06/sinclair-station-hudson-wyoming.html

    http://paintedbricksofcasperwyoming.blogspot.com/2012/06/svilars-hudson-wyoming.html

    Good to see that somebody else takes an interest in this subject!

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