Goebel Brewing Company (Demolished)
Detroit, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Check out this old Detroit building with the words Stock Cellar stamped above one of the windows. It's the kind of detail that's easy to miss, but once you spot it, you can't help but wonder what went on inside. 07-09
It turns out the building was part of the old Goebel Brewing Company. In brewery terms, a stock cellar was where beer was stored and aged before it was bottled and shipped out. Goebel even built an advertising campaign around its famous "Stock Cellar 22," making the name familiar to beer drinkers throughout the Midwest.
Unlike painted ghost signs, this lettering was built right into the masonry itself. It wasn't meant to advertise to passing motorists as much as identify part of the brewery complex. Years later, that simple inscription became an unexpected reminder of what the building once was.
It's always fun when an old building answers a mystery. What first looks like an odd business name is really a reminder of Detroit's once-thriving brewing industry.
Goebel Brewing Company
Detroit, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Little details like this are part of what makes exploring old industrial buildings so interesting. A faded sign, a carved stone, or a few words above a window can tell a story that's been hiding in plain sight for decades.
UPDATE: The Goebel brewery complex has since been demolished, and the old Stock Cellar building is gone. Along with it disappeared another small piece of Detroit's brewing history. 07-26
Leach Building
Clio, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Here's an old downtown storefront in Clio, MI known as the Leach Building. It's the kind of brick commercial building that gives a Main Street its personality, with large storefront windows and just enough architectural detail to catch your eye. 07-09
For many years the building was home to the Gem Theatre, a single-screen movie house that entertained Clio residents for decades. Old newspaper ads show everything from silent-era films to John Wayne movies playing here over the years.
Although the theater is long gone, the building itself has remained a part of downtown. It's always nice to see these old storefronts continue finding new uses instead of sitting empty.
UPDATE: The Leach Building is still standing, but the Gem Theatre is gone. Today the building has been repurposed for commercial use, keeping this old Main Street survivor in service. 07-26
Mexicantown Bakery
Detroit, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Check out Mexicantown Bakery in Detroit, MI. The colorful building and bold sign are hard to miss along Vernor Highway, and they're enough to make plenty of passing motorists think about stopping for something sweet. 07-09
The family-owned bakery has been serving Southwest Detroit since 1995 and is well known for its fresh pan dulce, conchas, tres leches cakes, and other traditional Mexican baked goods. Step inside and you'll find display cases filled with pastries in just about every shape and color imaginable.
It's the kind of neighborhood bakery that adds a lot of personality to the street, and the bright exterior fits right in with the surrounding Mexicantown district.
UPDATE: Mexicantown Bakery is still serving customers today, and the colorful building and familiar sign are both still welcoming visitors along Vernor Highway. 07-26
Lionel Trains
Harvey, IL Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss
Just up the road from the Pizza by Geneo in Dolton, IL we came across the old Lionel dealer. This was not actually a vintage sign. We talked to the owner who mentioned that this shop opened in 1941 and had been moved from across the street in the town of Phoenix. The place had not been updated since the shop moved and originally they also repaired TV's and radios. The store was loaded with vintage Lionel trains. The original sign outside was a backlit plastic affair for TV repair but he told us kids kept throwing rocks at it so he had someone make up this Lionel sign and no one has tossed a rock at it yet. 11-09
Here's another look at the old Lionel Trains shop on the Harvey, IL side of the Harvey, Dolton, and Phoenix border. If you're a train fan, this was the kind of place you could spend a long time browsing.
The Lionel sign out front wasn't original. After neighborhood kids repeatedly broke the old plastic TV repair sign with rocks, the owner replaced it with the custom Lionel sign seen here. According to him, no one ever threw another rock at it.
UPDATE: The Lionel Trains dealership is still open in Harvey, IL. 07-26
Barn (Gone)
Logansport, IN Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Check out this unusual barn found along the highway near Logansport, IN. At first it looks like an ordinary roof, but take a closer look and you'll see a semi truck made entirely from colored roof shingles. It's definitely not something you expect to see while driving through the Indiana countryside. 11-09
The truck design was built right into the roof using different colored shingles, creating a giant roadside mosaic that was easy to spot from nearby US 24. It may not have been fancy, but it was a clever way to give an ordinary barn a little personality.
It's hard to imagine how much planning went into laying all those shingles just right. The result was a fun roadside surprise for anyone paying attention.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, the barn and its shingled semi truck are gone today, making this another creative roadside attraction that's now just a memory. 07-26
Etna Elevator Co.
Etna Green, IN Photos and info courtesy Richard Weiss
Here's an old grain elevator in Etna Green, IN that's about as Midwestern as it gets. The tall wooden elevator still dominates the little town, although someone spoiled the view a bit by covering one side with aluminum siding. 02-10
The Etna Elevator Company has been serving local farmers for generations and remains a working elevator today. The old wooden tower stands behind the main office, while the front of the building is covered with vintage farm advertising signs that add even more character.
Despite a few modern changes over the years, this is still the kind of place that's becoming harder to find. It's always nice to come across a grain elevator that's still doing the job it was built to do.
Etna Elevator Co.
Etna Green, IN Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
UPDATE: The elevator is still operating today under Hartzell Farm Feed & Supply, and the old wooden tower continues to stand over Etna Green. 07-26
Goebel Brewing Company (Demolished)
It's always fun when an old building answers a mystery. What first looks like an odd business name is really a reminder of Detroit's once-thriving brewing industry.
Leach Building
Mexicantown Bakery
Lionel Trains
Barn (Gone)
Etna Elevator Co.
Despite a few modern changes over the years, this is still the kind of place that's becoming harder to find. It's always nice to come across a grain elevator that's still doing the job it was built to do.
