Classic Pennsylvania Road Photos ---Highway Photos Taken Before the Internet Explosion

Since about 1996, the Internet has brought roads and road culture to the masses through various webpages like PA Road Photos and More.   Over the past five years, the 'PA Pics Page' has evolved to cover the entire Commonwealth and feature many of the state highway and natural features.  Classic Pennsylvania Road Photos features the photography of those who were taking roadgeek pictures before many of us got involved in this hobby.  More importantly, it allows for the opportunity to see how Pennsylvania looked in decades past.  In some cases, signs that are out of date and faded today were new and to standard when the photo was taken.  If you have road photos from prior to 1995, let me know by dropping an e-mail to aprince4@nycap.rr.com.

1980-1989
Cambria County and Upper Yoder Township line signs.  Photo taken by Fred Yenerall; May 1983.
1970-1979
Button Copy Text BGS for PA 487 (Exit 35) on I-80 East; Lightstreet.  Photo taken by Michael Summa; 1979.  Exit 35 changed to Exit 236 in 2001.
Button Copy Text BGS for PA 54 (Exit 33) on I-80 East; Mausdale.  Taken by Michael Summa; 1979.  In 2001, Exit 33 became Exit 224.
Button Copy Pennsylvania Turnpike Entrance BGS on US 11; Carlisle.  Photo taken by Michael Summa; 1979.  In some locations these giant button copy still exist, many others have been replaced with reflectorized sheathing versions.
Yellow on dark blue 'Village of Jollytown' town line sign.   Photo taken by Fred Yenerall; April 1977.  Unlike keystones, there are not many of these signs left in the state.  Here is one still standing in Erie County in 2006.
Yellow on dark blue Fayette County line sign.  Photo taken by Fred Yenerall; April 1977.
Yellow on dark blue Armstrong County line sign.  Photo taken by Fred Yenerall; May 1976.
Button Copy BGS for PA 940/PA Turnpike (Exit 42) on I-80 West; Lake Harmony.  Photo taken by Michael Summa; 1976.  This specific sign has been replaced.  But other signs from this era still exist approaching the interchange.  Example.  The interchange number was also changed to Exit 277 in 2001.
Cutout PA 590 Shield; Pike County.  Photo taken by Michael Summa, 1976.  Pennsylvania began to remove cutouts in the mid-60's to early 70's.  This shield was able to see the Bicentennial.
Deer Crossing warning sign in Snyder County.  Photo taken by Fred Yenerall; July 1975.  A new graphic based deer crossing sign is supplemented with a text "DEER XING" box.  This style was common during the 70s after more graphic based warning signs were introduced.
Blue on White Perry County line sign.  Photo taken by Fred Yenerall; July 1975.  PennDot switched from the yellow/gold on dark blue to the blue on white style still seen today.  This is the earliest example I have seen of the blue on white.
Snyder County and Chapman Township line signs.  Photo taken by Fred Yenerall; July 1975.  Look closely at the bottom center of both signs, you will see the old PA Division of Highways (PDH) symbol on the Snyder County sign, and the then 'new' PennDot symbol at the bottom of the Chapman Township sign.
Juniata County line sign.  Photo taken by Fred Yenerall; July 1975.
Embossed Railroad Crossing crossbuck; Westmoreland County.  Photo taken by Fred Yenerall; October 1974.
Westmoreland County line sign.  Photo taken by Fred Yenerall; October 1974.
1950-1959
Embossed Route 932 shield; Mercer County.  Photo donated by Dan Convery.  Photo taken August 23, 1951.  PA 932 ran along the PA-Ohio border in Lawerence and Mercer counties.  The route was decommissioned in 1985.
1930-1939
Coal Hill Summit marker on Lakes-To-Sea Highway; Summit.  Photo donated by Douglas Leffler.  This 1930s vintage photo was taken on what is now PA 350 in Centre County.  The Lakes-To-Sea Highway at the time was US 322 which succeeded PA 5's designation.
Years Unknown
Cutout US 220 and PA 14 shields; Lycoming County.  Image courtesy of  Michael Summa, Date Unknown.  PA 14 was truncated from Clarks Ferry to Trout Run in 1963.   As a result, the multiplex with US 220 and US 15 further north was eliminated.  Until 1956, PA 14 ran as far south as Harrisburg.  Click to enlarge.
Painted PA Route 5 shield; location unknown.  Postcard scan donated by Bob Hoover.  The photo dates back to between 1911-1928.   This could possibly be in Phillipsburg.  The original route number for US 322 was PA 5.


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    Page Created: June 29, 2003
    Last Updated: August 20, 2006

    © 2003-06 William Lawson