F. W. Woolworth Company. The old days when they sold baby turtles in their pet departments.

You could hear the squaking parakeets the minute your entered Woolworth's store. The hamsters and white mice running on their wheels, the large tanks full of goldfish and guppies.

Looking south-west from the corner of Devon and Western Avenues, Chicago. The F. W. Woolworth's had entrances on Devon and on Western. The Western Avenue entrance was in the Pet Department. Circa 1950s.

The small green turtles, young "Red-Eared Sliders" with pretty markings, didn't often live very long, no matter how careful you were caring for them... which I’m afraid was the fate of most of the turtles that kids carried home from Woolworth’s.

They lived in containers like this one, which was more complex than it seems at first glance. It was designed so that the turtle has an “island” with ridges on the slanted approach make it easier for the turtle to climb up out of the water. The island also has a palm tree, a whimsical touch that had nothing to do with red sliders’ preferred habitat of mucky ponds with rotting logs for perches.  

Because the turtles could go without food for a few days and could retract into their shells to protect themselves, someone got the bright idea that they could be shipped through the U.S. mail as premiums. The High Turtle Food Company sent these turtles through the mail, after painting the back of their shell with “Good Luck” and advertised their turtle food for 10¢. Buying any pet generally initiates a series of expenditures that soon outstrip the initial cost of that pet.

Live Turtle Box.

Where did the small green turtles come from? There were captive-breeding turtle farms in the deep South, particularly Louisiana where turtle farming still thrives, mainly serving the Asian food market.  Woolworth’s pet departments had been limited to goldfish until 1935 when company price limits on the cost of inventory ended and more expensive creatures could be offered for sale along with cages, collars and leashes, pet toys, packaged food, and medicines.

While Woolworth’s pet departments survived until the entire chain closed in 1997, little green turtles ceased being part of the stock in 1975, when the Food and Drug Administration banned pet stores from selling turtles smaller than four inches in length because children picked up salmonella from playing with their pets and failing to wash their hands.

Compiled by Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Over 200 Pictures of Ghost Signs found in Chicago, Illinois.

What is a ghost sign? 
A ghost sign is an old hand-painted advertising sign that has been left, untouched, on a building or billboard for an extended period of time. These signs are usually uncovered when a neighboring building was demolished, exposing the sign.

The sign may be kept for its nostalgic appeal by the building owner; to avoid the costly removal of the paint on brick; or the cost of whitewashing over the sign.

Captions contain all the information available. The location in the caption is from the location of the sign, not the business the sign is advertising unless the sign is on that business' building.

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Ghost sign: 7●UP 1747 E 75th

Ghost sign: 7●UP 624 W. Ashland

Ghost sign: 7●UP 6922 Stony Island

Ghost sign: 7●UP Lawrence at Tripp

Ghost sign from 1946 for Monarch Beer Co., located
at 1090-1118 West 21st Street, Chicago

Ghost sign: STP, The racers edge, 13th, and Wabash

Ghost sign: 230 East Cermak Ford, Indiana and Cermak

Ghost sign: 523 Plymouth

Ghost sign: the 900 block of West Cullerton

Ghost sign: 1100 block of W 18th St

Ghost sign: 1200 block of Grand Ave

Ghost sign: ABC Anderson Bros Fire Proof Storage Damen and Lincoln Aves

Ghost sign: Champion Spark Plugs 4100 block of W Roosevelt Rd 

Ghost sign: 4100 block of W Roosevelt Rd 

Ghost sign: Flash Auto Parts 5000 W Lake St 

Ghost sign: Coca-Cola 5438 N Clark

Ghost sign: A & P Harlem and Higgins 

Ghost sign: A Moving Co 4700 N Western Ave 

Ghost sign: ABC Anderson Bros

Ghost sign: Ability Adco 

Ghost sign: Advertise Here Fulton Market North of Morgan 

Ghost sign: Ajax Auto and Tire Supply, North Ave at Kedvale 

Ghost sign: Alliance National Bank, 808 N Oakley 

Ghost sign: American Family Insurance, 1880 N Hoyne 

Ghost sign: Amys Motel Dukes Show Lounge, 119 E 79th

Ghost sign: ABC - Anderson Bros Fire Proof Storage, Damen & Lincoln Aves.

Ghost sign: Antique Mart, 1000 S Michigan 

Ghost sign: Apex Batteries 

Ghost sign: Apples Sport Bar, Lake St West of Canal St 

Ghost sign: Ashland Brewery, 674 W Ashland 

Ghost sign: Atalanta Ham on Touhy at Rockwell (Old Kohl's Grocery Store Billboard in the parking lot). 

Ghost sign: Atlantic Bank Building, 168 N Michigan Ave 

Ghost sign: Atlas Prager, 6141 S State

Ghost sign: B and B Ceramics, 3393 S Archer 

Ghost sign: Bachia Bootery, 1741 W Ave 

Ghost sign: Bank of Ravenswood, Rogers Park Neighborhood 

Ghost sign: Beer

Ghost sign: Bell Bread, 4814 W Augusta 

Ghost sign: Best Polish Sausage in the World - Pilsen Neighborhood 

Ghost sign: Billard Hall on Milwaukee Ave 

Ghost sign: Billiard Parlor, Fullerton and Southport 

Ghost sign: Binks Manufacturing Company on Carroll East of Kedzie

Ghost sign: Bordens Evaporated Milk on Milwaukee Ave South of Lawrence Ave 

Ghost sign: Boss Hand Car Wash, 25 S Western Ave 

Ghost sign: The Boston Store 

Ghost sign: Bowmanville National Bank, Devon Ave and Western Ave

Ghost sign: Bressler Ice Cream, 4010 W Belden

Ghost sign: Bright Metals Finishing in the Hermosa Neighborhood 

Ghost sign: Bryn Mawr Theatre 

Ghost sign: Burhop Paper Co 1071 N Division 

Ghost sign: Calumet Baking Powder, 7339 S Halsted St

Ghost sign: Canfield Portside Lounge, 9035 S Ashland Ave

Ghost sign: Canfields Beverages & Nate's Drive-In; 1065 W Taylor St

Ghost sign: Canfields Soda 1736 E 79th St 

Ghost sign: Canfields Soda 347 E 79th St

Ghost sign: Canton Hand Laundry

Ghost sign: Cappas Brothers Liquors and Tavern, Archer and Western

Ghost sign: Carbit Paint Shipping and Lab 

Ghost sign: Cartage Contractor Boarding Stable, 1315 S Fulton Market

Ghost sign: Cedar Hotel 

Ghost sign: Ceresota Flour, 1515 W Devon Ave

Ghost sign: Champion Spark Plugs 708 N Ashland Ave

Ghost sign: Champion Spark Plugs 2002 W 18th St

Ghost sign: Champion Spark Plugs 2417 S Wabash Ave

 

Ghost sign: Champion Spark Plugs 5627 W Irving Park Road 

Ghost sign: Champion Spark Plugs 5914 N Milwaukee Ave

Ghost sign: Champion Spark Plugs 8623 S Vincennes Ave

Ghost sign: Chevrolet, Indiana Ave and Cermak Ave 

Ghost sign: Chicago Motor Club in Uptown

Ghost sign: Chicago Tanning Co, Bucktown Neighborhood

Ghost sign: Chicago Theater Entrance

Ghost sign: Christensen & Olsen Foundry Co., 218 N Racine Ave 

Ghost sign: Cigars 1428 S Kedzie Ave 

Ghost sign: Cleaners Drive Up Window, 1138 W Taylor St

Ghost sign: Cobey True Value Hardware, Logan Square Neighborhood

Ghost sign: Coke Cola 7949 S Racine Ave

Ghost sign: Continental Window and Glass on North West Side 

Ghost sign: Corner Grocery on S Carpenter and 83rd St

Ghost sign: Cream of Kentucky Whiskey 1643 N Milwaukee

Ghost sign: Cuban, 6638 S Ashland Ave

Ghost sign: Daily News 105x N Ashland Ave

Ghost sign: Daily News 1927 N Halsted St

Ghost sign: Daily News 2314 S Leavitt St

Ghost sign: Daily News, 3145 South May

Ghost sign: Daily News, 3329 S Aberdeen

Ghost sign: Daily News

David Storage

David Storage

Ghost sign: Delivery Wagons

Ghost sign: Diversey Inn, 2854 W Diversey St

Ghost sign: Double Bubble & Michelob on Tap, 6036 N Broadway

Ghost sign: Douglas Coal Co on  Archer Ave

Ghost sign: Dr Pepper Original, 75th St and Jeffery Blvd

Ghost sign: Drewrys Beer 3507 N Cicero Ave

Ghost sign: Drewry's Beer 4200 block of W Roosevelt Rd

Ghost sign: Drugs–Drink Coca-Cola–Cigars at 1363 W Shiller St

Ghost sign: DW Bostel

Ghost sign: Edelweiss Beer, 5508 W Fullerton Ave

Ghost sign: Ednas Restaurant 19 S Kedzie Ave

Ghost sign: Edward Hines Lumber Company on Clark St

Ghost sign: Elliots Paint

Ghost sign: For Your Pleasure

Ghost sign: Foremost Liquor Stores

Ghost sign: Foremost Liquors on Broadway

Ghost sign: Fox Deluxe Beer 1056 N Ashland Ave

Ghost sign: Fox Deluxe Beer 1629 N Ashland Ave

Ghost sign: Fox Deluxe Beer 3144 W Fulton St

Ghost sign: Fox Deluxe Beer 4457 N Kedzie Ave

Ghost sign: Fox Deluxe Beer 5038 Archer Ave

Ghost sign: G and Z Reataurant and Bar, 235 N Ashland Ave

Ghost sign: Gast Monument on Clark St

Ghost sign: General Furniture Co, 5927 W Chicago Ave

Ghost sign: Glenway Restaurant & Old Style Beer, Edgewater Neighborhood

Ghost sign: Godfather Video on Pulaski and Van Buren St

Ghost sign: Gold Dust Wash Powder, Irving Park Road and Wolcott Ave

Ghost sign: Gold Medal Flour, 1015 N Noble St

Ghost sign: Gold Medal Flour, 1901 N Bissell St

Ghost sign: Gold Medal Flour, 1917 W Armitage Ave

Ghost sign: Gold Medal Flour, 7341 S Halsted St

Ghost sign: Good Food, 1201 W 71st St

Ghost sign: Gossard Corsets, 1006 S Michigan Ave

Ghost sign: Great City Living

Ghost sign: Grocery Market, 7157 S Ashland Ave

Ghost sign: Gösser Beer imported from Austria

Ghost sign: HC Gasoline on Chicago Ave near Leavitt St

Ghost sign: Heating Company

Ghost sign: Hobbies Magazine, 1006 S Michigan Ave

Ghost sign: Hotel Cedar

Ghost sign: Hotel Somerset

Ghost sign: Howaniec Furniture

Ghost sign: Inter Seal Company

Ghost sign: Iron Fireman

Ghost sign: Jimmy Smith Budweiser, 6251 S Western Ave

Ghost sign: John Fass and Son Grocery and Market, 2101 N Kenmore Ave

Ghost sign: John Marshall Law School, State St and Van Buren St

Ghost sign: Keysters on N Pulaski and Berteau

Ghost sign: Kimbell Trust and Savings Bank, Armitage Ave Logan Square

Ghost sign: Kimbell Trust and Savings Bank, Diversey Ave

Ghost sign: Kimbell Trust and Savings Bank, W Fullerton Avenue

Ghost sign: Kopicki Funeral Home, 1701 W 21st St

Ghost sign: Koppers Coke, 9021 S Ashland Ave

Ghost sign: Koppers Coke, Belmont Ave near Harlem Avenue.

Ghost sign: L. Fish Furniture, Madison St and Karlov Ave

Ghost sign: Lang Ice Company 3600 W 59th St

Ghost sign: Lerose Coal Co.

Ghost sign: Lincoln Park Federal Savings

Ghost sign: Liquor Wicker, Park Neighborhood

Ghost sign: Lou's Sandwich Shop on Western Ave and Addison St

Ghost sign: Lyon and Healy Music Store Adams and Wabash

Ghost sign: Maher, 6572 N Sheridan

Ghost sign: Mann Draperies and Interiors, Grandville 'L' Station

Ghost sign: Marigold Margarine on Lincoln Ave and Lawrence. Thomas Cusack Co.

Ghost sign: Marlboro

Ghost sign: Meister Bräu Lite, 3636 S Western Ave

Ghost sign: Merit Truck Parts & Wheel Co., 1638 S Wabash Ave

Ghost sign: Midas Muffler, 6040 N Broadway

Ghost sign: Mourad Cleaners

Ghost sign: Nabisco Uneeda Biscuits, Jackson Blvd and Wells Street

Ghost sign: National Survey Service

Ghost sign: Gadzooke, North Broadway and Bryn Mawr

Ghost sign: North Oak Furniture

Ghost sign: North Side Cleaners on Broadway

Ghost sign: O'Hanley Undertaker, 6535 S Cottage Grove

Ghost sign: Old Style Beer 1401 W Devon Ave

Ghost sign: Old Vienna

Ghost sign: Overalls Shirts Pants

Ghost sign: Pago Pago

Ghost sign: Pawlansky Brothers Meat Market, 1235 N Damen

Ghost sign: Peck and Hills Furniture Co., 1000 N Ogden

Ghost sign: Peer, 46th St

Ghost sign: Pepsi

Ghost sign: Pillsbury on Southport Ave

Ghost sign: Prescription at Montrose and Pulaski

Ghost sign: Rent A Car

Ghost sign: Rival Dog Food California Ave and Granville St 

Ghost sign: R.J. Rous Inc Wholesale Milk and Cream

Ghost sign: S & H Green Stamps, Ingleside and 75th St

Ghost sign: Sakrete Ready to Use

Ghost sign: Schlitz Beer, 2645 W 79th Street

Ghost sign: Schlitz Beer, in Wicker Park

Ghost sign: Schulzes Butter-Nut Bread 18th and Damen 

Ghost sign: Seipp Conrad Brewing Co,. 89th and Commercial Ave

Ghost sign: Simmons Hide-A-Bed on N Ashland Ave

Ghost sign: St Adalbert Hall Bingo Wednesday Nites, 1641 W 16th St

Ghost sign: Stanley Bafia Funeral Home, 200x W 18th St

Ghost sign: Studebaker

Ghost sign: Sunny Brook Whiskey, Ogden Avenue at St Louis

Ghost sign: Swap O Rama Flea Market

Ghost sign: Swap O Rama Flea Market

Ghost sign: Taqueria El Milagro, 26th St and Albany St

Ghost sign: The Decorators Showroom

Ghost sign: The Fair, Logan Square Neighborhood

Ghost sign: The Old Fashioned Neighborhood Bank, N Clark St and North Ave

Ghost sign: The Rogers Park at Pratt Blvd and Sheridan Rd

Ghost sign: The Sunday Tribune on Chicago Ave

Ghost sign: Three Sisters, Roseland Neighborhood

Ghost sign: Tobacco the Old Standard, 33xx N Clark St

Ghost sign: Toots Ice Cream and Hot Dogs on Central Ave and Addison St

Ghost sign: Travel and Tours, Edison Park Neighborhood

Ghost sign: Universal Auto Parts, 2703 S Loomis St

Ghost sign: Unknown in Logan Square

Ghost sign: Unknown

Ghost sign: Unknown

Ghost sign: Unknown

Ghost sign: Vulcanizing, Logan Square

Ghost sign: Waste Marketing, 9441 S Ewing Ave

Ghost sign: West City Savings Bank, Belmont, and Central Ave

Ghost sign: Westmont Engineering Co., 4244 W Lake St

Ghost sign: Yellow Cabs

Ghost sign: Royal Messenger, 3517 S Indiana

Ghost sign: Mexican Inn, 95th & Ewing, sign on the back of the restaurant.

Compiled by Neil Gale, Ph.D.