Ghost Signs and Vestige Billboards

Photo survey by Glenn Rebholz

Recently, one of the local alternative weeklies ran an article bemoaning the impending obstruction of the old painted Toxeol sign at the construction site of the new Holsinger building next to the C&O Restaurant on Water Street.

In 1997, the Historical Society mounted an exhibit called "New and Improved: the Art of Local Advertising" to showcase just such "ghost signs." We have that exhibit archived at the Society.

In 2002, local volunteer Glenn Rebholz made a photographic survey of what he called "vestige billboards " around town. He presented his findings to the City's Historic Resources Task Force in 2003, and gave the Historical Society permission to publish them on our website.

The interpretations of the signs (many of which are barely legible) are Glenn's. Glenn's original report is on file in the Historical Society's library