“The unexpected story of the A. Lincoln Motel Sign.”
Every sign has a story, but rarely does that story end at the ‘Rose Parade’. It began in the early 1950’s, when William Posegate contacted the owner of Ace Sign Co. at the time, Joe Bringuet, to build a new road sign along the then original Route 66 where his modest motel resided. The pole mounted sign was designed and built utilizing porcelain enamel and neon tubes, the materials of choice at the time.
Over time, Route 66 was decommissioned and the motel was closed and later demolished. The sign was lost to the ages with only small remnants remaining. Fast forward to 2023, Ace Sign Co. was tapped by the ‘Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway’ to re-create a full scale replica of the legendary sign that sparks memories for locals and travelers. Today, the neon recreation is permanently displayed at the ‘‘Legends Neon Park’ inside the new ‘ Route 66 Experience’ at the Illinois State Fairground in Springfield, IL.
Fast forward to 2024, the iconic sign is also represented on the “Enjoy Illinois’ float, adorned with thousands of flowers and seen by millions on New Years Day at the 2024 Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA.
