A few years back, photographer Adam Levin, who has worked with OnMilwaukee on a number of Milwaukee history posts, started the Old Milwaukee Facebook group, which has grown exponentially.
Recently, he began to explore another, more specific passion, that he's cataloguing in his new Facebook group, Ghost Signs of Milwaukee.
"Ghost Signs fascinate me," Levin says. "Sign painting and sign writing are kind of a lost art. They’re incredible reminders of years gone by."
We asked Levin to share some of his favorite images of Milwaukee-area ghost signs and these are what he shared. Of course, there are many more to check out in his group. You can also add your images there.
Great paper signs in Walker's Point
Bygone hotels near Mitchell Street and Downtown
Mmmm, beer
No beer for you
A former bowling alley in West Allis
A Brady Street classic
Milwaukee Soap
A couple signs in Butler
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
