Wednesday, January 14

Ghost SIgn Article in Baltimore STYLE Magazine


Photographer LaShelle Bynum captures the 'ghost signs' of Baltimore's advertising past:


Once she got started, Bynum couldn’t stop hunting for the old signs, which are known as ghost signs because they advertise long-gone businesses and because white is often the only color remaining on a sign (white lead paint deteriorates slower than color paints). Over the period of five years, Bynum amassed a portfolio of more than 125 images. An exhibit of her work— accompanied by her research into the history of the signs— debuted at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in 2007.


Read the entire article, and see some great images, here.


1234 Anywhere Street [map]

Tuesday, January 6

7up






Here is the same storefront in 1951. From the angle you can't tell what is on the side of the building, but you can see some sort of signage there.

PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 6 January 2009. <http://www.phillyhistory.org>.

50th and Lancaster Streets [map]

Monday, January 5

CLOTHING


Strange, everything is very faded except "CLOTHING"...

31st and Girard [map]

MONEY - LOANS - GOODS OF VALUE


View at corner.


From left to right: "MONEY LUGGAGE CLOTHING WATCHES DIAMONDS MONEY"


"MONEY"


"STANLEY'S (?) LOANS" and "GOODS OF VALUE"

13th and Snyder Streets [map]

Sunday, January 4

Premium Blue Ribbon Malt Extract



"Premium Blue Ribbon Malt Extract"
Not quite sure what appears beneath.

Wildey Street at Front Street [map]

JONES



"JONES"
Older signage appears beneath.


Illegible signage on side of building as well.

53rd and Lansdowne Ave [map]

Saturday, January 3

... cent's Cafe



"This is! (VIN)CENT'S CAFE ... (WE) SPECIALIZE IN ... (TOM)ATO PIE ... ?"

4900 block Lancaster [map]

Friday, January 2

... BROS



Hard to read, very faded.

Lancaster between Thompson and Girard [map]