Louis G. Wartman

Louis G. Wartman (February 26, 1912 - January 8, 1969 ) trained as a neon tube bender in the 1930's, then opened his first neon shop in Covington at 303 Crescent Avenue in 1939. He later moved the shop to the corner of Philadelphia and 9th.

Lou's Neon was a well-known and successful business. It allowed Lou and his wife Mary to raise 16 children , 8 boys, and 8 girls, all single births. As if 16 weren't enough, Lou adopted on of his son's friends when that friend became an orphan. “With that many mouth's to feed, what's one more?”

Lou Wartman not only took care of his family, but would frequently fill his station wagon full of day-old baked goods from Klosterman's Bakery, the re-distribute them to needy families around the Covington area.

The Wartman's quickly outgrew their home in Covington, and eventually Lou was able to buy a farm in Kenton County. That gave Lou, (and his 17 farm hands), the ability to raise cows and chickens to help feed the family, not to mention room to spread out and add some needed bedrooms.

Louis was able to pass on his neon skills to four of his sons: Steve, (who owned Strictly Neon in Covington), Joe (who owned Neon Visions), Ted, and Tom. In 1991 Tom, along with his business partner, Greg Pond, opened Neon Works of Cincinnati, Inc. in Evendale, and after 19 years moved into the American Sign Museum.

Many an old store sign, as well as Wiedemann and Bavarian Beer signs bear the paper label: Lou's Neon, Covington, Ky.

 

from an annotation of the sign pictured on the prior page. Both can be seen at the American Sign Museum. Recommended.