Cola Wars

Taken 6/8/2013
Ottumwa, IA

Diamond "C" Soap

Taken 6/8/2013
Ottumwa, IA

(At least that's what I think it says...)

Harbach & Sons Co.

Taken 6/16/2013
Des Moines, IA

Just south of MLK on 5th, the Harbach & Sons Co. Factory building. What they made, I don't know. Why somebody thought sprucing the building up by painting green stripes on the front would work, I don't know.

Bull Durham Smoking Tobacco

7/14/2013
Colfax, IA

As mentioned in The Rusty Door, I was in Colfax attempting to photograph this Bull Durham Smoking Tobacco sign painted on the side of the Briggs Building. Not all that satisfied with the way the pics came out, but since it's a cool sign I'm posting it anyway. Will head to Colfax again sometime to attempt a reshoot with hopefully better results, though it's tough to get a decent angle with a relatively clean shot.

Schmitt & Henry Manufacturing Co.

8/27/2011
Des Moines, IA

 From Wikipedia (so you know it must be true):

The Schmitt and Henry Manufacturing Company is a complex of three historic buildings located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The complex was built in three stages from 1901-1914 by Schmitt-Henry, who manufactured furniture. Sealy Mattress Company took over the building in 1973 after Schmitt-Henry moved to West Des Moines. Hubbell Reality purchased the complex in 1994 for $75.000. Plans were approved in 2009 to convert the complex, as well as the Hawkeye Transfer Company Warehouse, into loft apartments. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

Hotel Randolph

6/2/2013
Old vs New on Court Avenue
Des Moines, IA

ouse of Glass

Aberdeen, SD
7/3/2013

Keep Your Livestock Healthy

State Center, IA
10/14/2012

Gents Furnishings

Des Moines, IA
Corner of Keo Way & 12th
10/9/2011

Spotted this left over painted sign along Keo. Across from the Greyhound station. And been thinking about it and I've come to a conclusion... Dry Goods and Notions are common enough terms associated with old school drug stores. But Gents Furnishings I wasn't sure about. Then it dawned on me... must be code for "porn."

Also, where do you get notions these days?

Good Food

This door has fascinated me for a long time… probably because it’s three stories above the ground. Why is there a door that opens out 20 or 30 feet above the alley below?