Designphiladelphia Feature
Today the Designphiladelphia blog featured a post about the Philly Ghost Signs Project blog. If you've arrived here from the post, welcome! If you haven't, you can read the full write-up here.
Kevin Derrick, who runs the blog, read a little deeper into the content contained here, beyond just the collection of photos of old buildings:
In doing this work, the photo-journal simultaneously questions our past, present and future all under the beguiling premise of peeling paint… Something of a revelation and altogether extraordinary, certainly.
The blog is the ongoing online presence of Designphiladelphia, a series of events that include studio tours, lectures, exhibitions, workshops, book signings and parties in and around Philadelphia design institutions.
If you have any tips or information on signs that you know about, please send me an email via the link at right. Thanks for looking!
Harbison Dairy Milk Bottle Water Tower
Not the best shot, taken with my phone. Will have to come back to reshoot.
Some history:
Harbisons Dairies built the water tower around 1914. There were two other bottles at the intersections of Kensington and Erie avenues and another at York Road and Ontario Street in Kensington. it was a water tank for the sprinkler systems.
Over time, the milk bottles became trademarks for the company. When the original milk bottle and the plant that it was attached to were sold to the Novick Brothers food company (for a mere $40,000 in 1951), an agreement was drawn up: The water tower was to remain and if the shape was not changed, the plant's new owners were allowed to paint it any color but white. It took a while, but eventually the agreement was honored and the bottle was painted gray and black.
Today, Harbisons Dairies are no longer in business (the company was sold in 1966), and all that remains is the original bottle, rusted and in danger of meeting the same fate as the other two. The bottle, nominated to the Preservation Alliance's Endangered Properties List in both 2003 and 2004 is said in the alliance's newsletter to be "not as significant as many other sites.
Great article here. More information here.
Coral and Abigail Streets [map]
Schaffer Furniture
"Schaffer Furniture"
Corners, Bainbridge and Fairhill Streets [map]
Lou Wolff & Sons
"Lou Wolff & Sons Quality Used Cars"
Not really "ghost" signs, as they are in quite good shape, as well as the business still operating on the premises. But the great typography just needed to be captured... I especially love the used of exchange letters in the phone numbers...
538 E Girard Ave [map]
Fishtown Ice
"Fishtown Ice"
As the corner buildings were being demolished, I spotted signage being reused as cladding...
Corner, Columbia Ave and Thompson St [map]
Berger Bros. Company
"Berger Bros. Company"
Some photos showing older/newer signage? Taken 1976.
236 Arch Street [map]
Joseph Cornelius - Upholsterer
"Joseph Cornelius
Upholsterer"
Thanks to Justin Flax for sending this in!
50th and Baltimore [map]
Edwin J. Cummings Family and Steam Coal House
"CUMMINGS COAL"
Here is the location in a photo dated 8/15/1894. The building seems to be in the same place, but altered and with a second story. Gone are all the buildings on the block surrounding it.
PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 8 April 2008. <http://www.phillyhistory.org>.
400 block of 13th Street, near Callowhill [map]
Peamount?
"Peamount" and "5c"
Corner facade of Chateau-Wineo, formerly W&J and Ministry of Information.
Poplar at St John Neumann Way [map]
K&F CHINA
"K&F CHINA ...ERS"
There is more painted signage on the tile behind the white wooden planks.
230 Arch Street [map]
Philadelphia Belting Company
"Philadelphia Belting Company
MANUFACTURERS LEATHER BELTING"
6th and Spring Garden [map]
Union Transfer Co.
"Union Transfer Co.
Baggage Express"
Now a Spaghetti Warehouse.
1026 Spring Garden [map]
Esslinger's Brewery - Plant No. 1
Older, larger sign with "Esslinger" script, covered by newer, yellow-background sign. Another sign overlaps, only remaining legible section reads "... & SON."
To get a sense of the Esslinger script and color pallette, look at these items: beer label, beer can, Quizzie case, serving tray, menu sheet, and model delivery truck. For some history on Esslinger's, see here.
Ornate corner signage in stone.
More signage in stone.
10th Street and Ridge Avenue [map]
The Bicycle with the National Reputation
YATES & CO. CLOTHING
"YATES & CO. CLOTHING"
Other signage appears beneath, painted over.
Apologies for the image quality - these are screen grabs from Google Maps Street View. This sign still stands, but new construction has taken place on the lot in front of the sign prior to my being able to shoot it, blocking it from view.
An alternative view can be seen below, part of chrisinphilly's North Philadelphia Flickr set:
Broad and Indiana [map]
Block Go-Carts
Partially identified as "Block Go-Garts" (see here) in 1924.
Older signage appears beneath.
1134-1148 N American Street [map]
Shein's Express
"SHEIN'S EXPRESS, TRENTON - NEWARK - NEW YORK"
49 Laurel Street [map]
... Express?
"...STATE EXPRESS"
Many overlapping signs, all covered over with red paint.
Frankford Avenue, between Mercer and Master Streets [map]
Philadelphia Life Insurance Company
"Philadelphia Life Insurance Company" on rear of building.
Buildings are currently being razed,
amid much controversy (see here and here).
N Broad Street between Arch and Cherry [map]
Empire Building
"EMPIRE BUILDING"
Apartments (see here).
Image from 1931. PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 28 January 2008. <http://www.phillyhistory.org>.
13th and Walnut (sign is on Walnut side) [map]
Freedman, Casper & Co. Shirt Makers
"Freedman, Casper & Co. Shirt Makers"
Looks like there may have been more signage above.
Walnut between 9th and 10th Streets [map]
Unknown - Earl Street at Girard
Unknown.
Corner of Earl Street at Girard Avenue.
Unknown - Montgomery and Girard
Unknown.
Corner of Montgomery and Girard Avenues.
Unknown - Cresson Street, Manayunk
Unreadable signage on second story of building.
Only can make out letter "B" in center. Interesting dimensional shadow effect, similar to engraving (like type on US paper currency).
Visible in this 1930 photo, to the right, above the head of the closest worker.
PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 13 December 2007. <http://www.phillyhistory.org>.
Hare and Cute Coal Pockets
"Hare and Cute Coal Co."
More info here.
Jamestown Avenue, between Main and Cresson.
Fairmount Alley
Small alley, halfway down block.
My business partner Brian had parked directly in front of this little alley between two rowhomes, and as I sat in the passenger seat I spied what looked like lettering. Upon further inspection it was a sign. All I can make out is "BY", but the sign is large, about five feet high and runs down into the alley a ways.
Fairmount between 5th and 6th
Grand Theatre - TALKIES
"Grand Theatre - TALKIES - Matinee Daily"
Sign over Snyder Avenue entrance.
At some point, probably as the term grew out of fashion, "TALKIES" was painted over in black, to hide it in the (then) black background of the sign.
Additional signage on 7th, with some painted/boarded over.
Closeup of painted brick sign, facing east, on 7th.
"Grand Theatre - Direction"
Sign over 7th Street entrance.
Note GRAND painted over THEATRE.
The Grand was originally the Synder Avenue Baptist Church. As the neighborhood changed before WWI it became a hall and eventually was converted into a moviehouse in 1911. Silent films were joined by vaudeville. Another renovation, by architect W.H. Lee, took place in the 1930s. The Grand had 850 seats and one screen, and was able to charge more than other local theaters because it had air conditioning. A retail store took over by the 1960's. Recent tenants removed the white aluminum siding that had covered the structure for decades to reveal most original painted signage still intact.
More photos here. More information on this theater here.
7th and Snyder Avenue.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in, and to Anthony DiFlorio for allowing me to post some of his photos!
Before they were Ghosts
This blog focuses on remnants of advertising and signage from a different period as they appear today. Here are some great photographs from the Philadelphia Department of Records showing signage as it was, long before some would become ghosts.
I found these via PhillyHistory.org, a mapping website that allows users to search for, view by location, and purchase thousands of historic photographs dating back to the late nineteenth century.
15-21 and 100 N Juniper Street, 1911
42-44 S. Delaware Avenue, 1898
7th and Master Street, 1904
Front and Girard, 1916
143 Front Street, 1918
Front and Arch, 1918
Broad and Spruce, 1929
Ridge and Callowhill, 1930
Market and Water Streets, 1953
Front and Market Streets, 1952
American and Fairmount, 1955
Front and Arch Streets, 1959
PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 18 November 2007. <http://www.phillyhistory.org>.
Wanamaker Warehouse
John Wanamaker Wolf St. Warehouse
"??? Bldg." - blotted out with black paint
Wolf Street between Water and Swanson
Article in the Inquirer
I was interviewed by Philadelphia Inquirer metropolitan columnist Dan Rubin about this Philly Ghost Signs Project blog. It was really fun, and has renewed my interest in seeking out and capturing more signage around Philadelphia. The article even made the front page of the Inquirer online!
If you've arrived here from the links in the article, welcome! If you haven't, you can read the full article here. (LINK NO LONGER ACTIVE)
If you have any tips or information on signs that you know about, please send me an email via the link at right. Thanks for looking!
Addresses
Address markers painted on columns
This one is similar to the Nathan Trotter columns
3rd and New Streets
Mirrors and Glass
"MIRRORS AND GLASS"
Here's a shot from 1953, and you can see the sign in the upper left of the photo, in the blue band. There is a hanging sign at street level as well. From this image I can deduce that the company name was "J.E. BERKOWITZ MIRRORS AND GLASS".
Interesting to note the sign for the Horn and Hardart (building in the foreground of the top photo). Covered up by paint or stucco. Empty lot in front of the sign is now the Continental.
Second and Market Streets.
PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 27 November 2007. <http://www.phillyhistory.org>.
Black Horse Alley
Old, multi-layered sign. Large illegible letters under smaller, newer ones.
Here's a photo from 1953, and you can see a much fresher, newer sign in the upper right of the photo. You can make out the words:
"FURNITURE
INDUSTR...
MANUFACTU...
SHOW ROO..."
2nd Street at Black Horse Alley
PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 27 November 2007. <http://www.phillyhistory.org>.
Behind a Billboard
Behind a billboard, corner of 2nd and Arch
Scientific Apparatus
Orianna Street at Vine Street
Charles E. Brown Mfg. Co.
vertical "Charles E. Brown Mfg. Co."
Orianna Street at Vine
Leas and McVitty Oak Tanners
"Leas and McVitty Incorporated Oak Tanners"
over a much more modern painted sign
Orianna Street at Vine Street
Unknown at Vine and Orianna
Orianna Street at Vine Street
MAO
"MAO Electrical Supplies Co. Inc.
Industrial Electrical Equipment"
4th and Vine Streets
K. Straus & Co. Leaf Tobacco
K. Straus & Co. Leaf Tobacco
Since repainted/modified with new condo logo.
(Original can be seen here)
George Young & Co.
20th & Oregon Avenue
Trotters Alley
"B. SCHAPIRO & BRO."
What seems to be spools of thread below (?)
"DELIVERIES" with arrow
On the opposite wall of the blue brick alley
Trotters Alley, 3rd at Filbert Street
Unsure of authenticity, may have been painted for the movie "Beloved." Both signs are clearly visible in two scenes in the movie. The location is the alley that leads to Oprah Winfrey's character Sethe's back door entrance to her job in Cincinnati. Period-correct signage, even simulated ghost signs, painted specifically for movies or TV shows, are not all that uncommon.
However, in this photo taken in 1929, you can see some signage on the inside of the alleyway.
PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 27 November 2007. <http://www.phillyhistory.org>.
KLOSFIT Petticoat
"KLOSFIT Petticoat"
"...without any wrinkles..."
(more printed KLOSFIT ads here)
314 Arch Street [map]
Stencil Machines and Scales
"IDEAL Stencil Machines"
"TRINER Scales"
Vertical column "The WM.ALEXANDER Co."
Same building in 1977.
PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 27 November 2007. <http://www.phillyhistory.org>.
Arch at Mascher Street
Arch Street - Wire Cloth
Large, barely legible sign.
Here, you can see it peeking in the upper left corner.
Unknown date.
