This old building had been vacated and was in the early stages of a gut re-hab. The businesses on the first floor had all been kicked out, and their facades and signs removed, revealing an old sign—’SURGICAL SUPPLIES – FINEST CUTLERY’—from an earlier time.
What would it have been like to step into that shop, say, a hundred years ago, with its glistening displays of knives and . . . saws?
The sign was visible only for a short period. Whether it was thrown out, preserved, or papered over with today’s new sign, I do not know. Sadly, the only picture I have of it is this poor one I took with my cell phone as I was rushing to an appointment.
Click image to enlarge.
Harley says
The front of that building looks great! The workman are doing a superb job. Looks like the front is marble???………..The sign indeed must be pretty old-circa 1950’s or before? “Surgical” supplies are really no longer sold by “simple” store fronts. Yipes, I hope even in that more modern times they didn’t sell “saws.” ” Saws” and surgery remind me too much of civil war doctory.
Celia says
Harley–thanks for writing in–your comment made me look at the “sign” more carefully, and I’m pretty sure that the reason it wasn’t removed is that it is painted right onto the material of the building and couldn’t be removed. I believe then that it’s as old as the building itself, which I would guess was built around 1900-1915. Back then “doctory” (great coinage, by the way) was still pretty crude–dentistry, too. Just read McTeague; you’ll see what I mean.
Shawn Hazen says
Oh man! I wonder where that sign went? I dream of swooping into a situation like that and rescuing a cool old sign to hang in my house! Though my wife might not be as keen on the idea…
Celia says
After blowing up the photo and looking at it carefully, I concluded that the “sign” had actually been painted on the surface of the facade and couldn’t be removed, as everything else had. I think it’s been painted or covered over by now and couldn’t have been salvaged. . . . so one less potential threat to marital bliss . . .!