January 18, 2009

Morning in Tyler, Texas


I drove through Tyler, Texas, last weekend, and went back again this Saturday morning. It was worth the return trip.

12 oaks motor hotel sign
southern maid donuts in tyler
souther maid donuts neon sign
Southern Maid has been around since the 1950s

sky vue drive-in theater sign
The recently opened Sky Vue Drive-In Theater sign

iglesia nueva in tyler
a church near downtown

former gas station in tyler
Once a Phillips 66

humble oil in tyler
I found this former Humble Oil gas station, looking identical to the ones I'd seen in Houston. Those were Art Deco from the 1930s, so I'd bet this one is too.

independent order of odd fellows hall in tyler
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall

another angle on odd fellows neon signodd fellows neon sign
details of i.o.o.f. hall in tyler
morning view of erwin st. in tyler
Looking east, down Erwin St.

smith county courthouse
The Smith County Courthouse, c. 1955

liberty theatre in early morning
The Liberty Theatre

616 w. erwin
The porthole windows on this mean it's Streamline

corner of art deco bldg. in tyler

The former car dealership right across the street appeared to also be Streamline:
streamline car dealership in tyler
tyler service parts co. with neon
This business is still opened.

tyler court sign
tyler court neon sign
For a former motor court-style of motel. Probably from the '30s or '40s.

borden's neon sign
borden's in tyler
This is lit at night. I'll need to get back one evening.

masonic lodge sign in tyler
Masonic Lodge neon sign

front view of path 402 bldg.
new or old deco in tyler
This Art Deco building has been around for at least 50 years, according to a commenter at the Flickr page.


fuller's fine foods neon sign
Fuller's Fine Foods, open for business

j.d. stanley's famous pit bar b-q
j.d. stanley's famous pit bar b-q signage
Stanley's Pit Bar B-Q, in business since 1959
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7 comments:

  1. Cicero1:04 AM

    Nice pics!
    I work right beside the Borden building.
    Keep it up!
    CP

    ReplyDelete
  2. Chris6:00 PM

    Thanks, C! I appreciate that. Enjoy Tyler!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous1:19 PM

    I love this stuff! I always wanted to start a blog of photos of buildings, but it seems I never am able to get the shots. My wife thinks it's crazy to stop at every interesting building.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chris5:50 PM

    Trust me, Retro Hound, you aren't crazy for having that "aesthetic eye." Besides, you have a good thing going with your rare album blog.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous10:37 PM

    This my hometown and ate many a BBQ sandwich at Stanley's growin up in Tyler. It's right across the street from all the hospitals.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous10:09 PM

    The old gas station you said u seen in Houston. Has been demolished.

    ReplyDelete
  7. lizabaker2:31 AM

    That former car dealership right across the street looks like a shop owned by a Auto Dealer In Texas too.

    ReplyDelete