[SierraMadre]

Many cities are now requiring that the gas station signs on the poles be removed and replaced with one that are low and usually made with a slump-stone facade.
When I moved to Sierra Madre in 1973 (lived in Arcadia (1950-1973)), we had four gas stations. Now we have but two and our one that was Union Oil with the orange ball on the pole, had the ball and pole unceremoniously removed about four years ago when Union Oil would not longer support a station here because of the low volume of gas sold. So now it's a "Valero" station.
I saw, just by chance, the old white pole and the orange ball being hauled by truck down to the 210 Freeway. Pretty sad in a kind of pre-geezer sentimental sort of way.
The signs are blight to some, but after decades and decades these signs become landmarks. These landmarks act like a beacon telling you that you are home after a long day trying to make a buck.
They grow on you, these landmarks do.
The slump stone 4 foot high "Valero" sign won't replace the "76" ball anytime soon, especially in October.....