On 20 January 2014, I had business in the picturesque town of Washington, on the banks of the Missouri, turgid as it was. It was a beautiful morning and, with business completed, I decided to take a walking tour of the town with an eye cast out for wallsigns of interest. This is what I found.
Metered Hausgas West Front at Olive Street 2014
Ad reads in full: Metered Hausgas / The Magic Blue Flame / Refrigeration-Cooking-Heating. Building was likely a sales point for gas appliances; this particular morning it was being swarmed by workmen in the process of rehabbing.
Missouri Meerschaum Factory- West Front at Cedar Street 2014
The Missouri Meerschaum Company has been making corncob pipes for more than 140 years. A plaque on the face of the building reads: “Dutch immigrant Henry Tibbe and his son, Anton, began production of corncob pipes in 1869. The first portion of the factory was completed in 1883. The corncob pipe made Washington [MO] famous around the world.” In 2014, the factory is still in operation. This type of wall sign is called a factory strip.
Detail, Missouri Meerschaum Factory 2014
Name of company founder seen at eye-level just to left of front entrance. Sign appears to have been painted recently, possibly a touch-up on an older version.
Hardware & Machinery 219 West Main 2014
Fading ad seen from street level in Washington’s downtown area.
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