Clifton Hill, Missouri

According to a local who wandered by while I was out in front photographing, this was the original lumber yard building.  Now you'll notice that this photograph is not in color, so the parameters of the blog have to be stretched a little bit.  Now, I believe, it is going to be Missouri in Color and Black and White.  Located on the main road in Clifton Hill, just a few feet from the railroad tracks.  A beautiful, primordial, midwestern town with nothing appearing to have been altered in a very long time.  Notice the faded Chief Paints mascot in the top window of the front door, and the many and varied shades of rust and graceful decay.

Noll Motel, Moberly

The neon outside the Noll Motel, in Moberly, Missouri.  Located at the junction of highway 63 and the venerable old route 24, the Noll's neon sign has been lit since at least the early 50s.  I have a feeling that this post will be the first of several Missouri neon signs.

Salem Cemetery

I found this uniquely crafted tombstone in the cemetery behind Salem Presbyterian Church, in Randolph County, Missouri.  I was intrigued by the shape, the color of the stone, and the hand-carved lettering.  This is probably one of the oldest stones I've come across in a Missouri cemetery...I usually photograph in the cemetery after spending some time photographing the church and environs for my documentary project on the rural churches of Missouri.