A rare Kaiser-Frazer neon sign that stood for decades along Route 66 in Mitchell, Illinois, recently disappeared, and its whereabouts remain unknown.
The sign was unique in that it was repainted and neon tubing installed to advertise the Town & Country Motel. But the paint job eventually peeled off, revealing the porcelain Kaiser-Frazer sign underneath. The juxtaposition was striking.
The location of the sign was here, along Chain of Rocks Road (aka Route 66). It’s commonly listed with an Edwardsville address; that’s because the village of Mitchell never was incorporated.
Shawn Fowler reported the sign’s disappearance a few days ago:
A comment thread with the Facebook post indicated the sign disappeared, along with its pole, in September or October.
County records indicate the property is owned by Charles and Otto Baumann at that address, with a mailing address to Charles in nearby Glen Carbon, Illinois. The property has not changed hands since 1999. The owners took a senior citizen and senior assessment freeze in 2014, and both were renewed in 2018. The five-acre property was assessed at $29,730.
One roadie estimated the sign dated to about 1950, which makes sense because Kaiser-Frazer went renamed itself Kaiser Motors Corp. in 1951 after company president Joseph Frazer left. The Kaiser-Frazer name lasted only from 1947 to 1951.
Kaiser Motors renamed itself again Kaiser Jeep Corp. in 1963, and it merged into American Motors Corp. a decade later.
As for the Town & Country Motel, Route 66 Times reports it was built in 1935 and also had two frame duplex cabins. If know anything else about the motel or the sign’s whereabouts, please comment below.
The sign stood on a narrow lot that contained a house and little else to suggest it once was on the Main Street of America. I’d first encountered the sign 20 years ago, and the latest Google Street View image indicates little had changed.
(Image of the Kaiser-Frazer neon sign in Mitchell, Illinois, by Shawn Fowler via Facebook)
This sign is for sale on eBay for $13000
I’m positive it’s not the same one, Don.
My sign was stolen and that is a felony! Charles Baumann
Shawn Fowler I would appreciate it if you could get ahold of me concerning the matter of theft of the sign that goes with the motel at 5345 Chain of Rocks Road, Edwardsville, Illinois 62025 (mail goes to P.O. Box 14, Glen Carbon, Illinois 62034) The motel which was one of the first ones built on the Eastside of
The Mississippi River built on The Mother Road of The World by my Father, Otto Baumann was originally named The Chain of Rocks Tourist Court. Because of all the toil and struggle my Father and Mother who was physically sick her entire life causes me much emotional pain out of respect for them. I am not a rich man. I was low balled constantly from various parties trying to get this sign NOT BECAUSE OF THE REAL HISTORY OF THIS MOTEL but because the paint had worn off and the old Kaiser sign was showing. I’ll remind you that the theft of that sign is a felony! If you could help in the recovery of the sign I would be deeply indebted to you. Thank you for your understanding to a man who is a trained and experienced but so far failed Hollywood actor. I have worked with a number of celebrity actors including briefly with Harrison Ford and Academy Award Winner Mercedes Ruehl. Thank you for reading this. GOD Bless!
Most sincerely, Charles Baumann