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Photo Gallery:
Brick Wall Advertisements

Throughout Madison, historic brick wall advertisements survive the harsh elements year after year to get their messages across. A form of advertising rarely used after the 1960s, some brick wall ads are still vibrant and full of life.

Others, barely legible, appear to be ghost signs—only visible in the right light, slowly fading or flaking into the past. Silently, they evoke a nostalgic sense of products no longer available or businesses that have long since folded or moved. The signs have become part of the buildings and neighborhoods and can remind us of our community’s history.

Mark Speltz assembled this collection of photographs. He would love to hear from anyone who might have additional information or historical photographs of brick wall advertisements in Madison. Please contact him at mark_speltz@hotmail.com.


  Machinery Row
  E. Wilson St./Williamson St.


  International Harvester
  301 S. Blount St.


  Madison Candy Company
  744 Williamson St.


  King Midas Flour
  853 Williamson St.


  Gardner’s Purity Bread
  1053 Williamson St.


  Badger Display Studio
  1109 Williamson St.


  Dry Cleaners Curtain Specialist
  1216–1218 Williamson St.


  Tavern
 1526 Williamson St.


  Community Laundry
  518 Division St.


  Madison Fireproof Warehouse
  825 East Washington Ave.


  Gardner Baking Co.
  East Washington Ave. &
  Paterson St.


  Spear Head
  203–207 King St.


  Majestic Theatre
  119 King St.


  Bank of Madison
  1 West Main St.


  Blied Office Supplies
  East Washington Ave. &
  North Webster St.


  New Belmont Hotel
  E. Mifflin St.


  Above Blue Marlin Restaurant
  101 N. Hamilton St.


  Barons Department Store
  12–18 W. Mifflin St.


  YWCA Cafeteria
  122 State St.


  Illegible Sign
  433 State St.


  Drink Coca-Cola
  501 State St.


  Spiegel Catalog Shopping Center
  State St. & W. Gorham St.


  Royal Crown
  University Ave. & Hawthorne Ct.


  Sunkist
  612 West Main Street


  P. Lorillard Company
  651 West Doty St.


  Wiedenbeck-Dobelin Warehouse
  619 West Main St.


  John Gallagher Co.
  305 South Bedford St.


  Drink Coca-Cola
  109 East Lakeside St.


     


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