I've always been fascinated by "ghost signs", faded bits of history on the
sides of buildings. Most of the ones I've seen have been in small towns,
and advertise stores and goods long gone. One of the most famous, though,
the Mail Pouch tobacco signs, are all over the place in the Midwest and
Appalachia.and are actively being sought out and preserved by fans (a dear
friend is the son of Harley Warrick, the last man to paint signs for Mail
Pouch). Given all of that, you can imagine my excitement when this story
hit the front page in Columbus, OH. I'm particularly pleased that, unlike
so many communites and building owners, they fully appreciate the historic
value of what they have.
http://www.dispatch.com/emailme/emailme.php?story=dispatch/2006/09/02/20060902-B1-00.html
History falls, rises anew in Chillicothe
Now-leveled buildings had concealed mural ad possibly from late 1800s
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Kelly Hassett
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
FRED SQUILLANTE DISPATCH Chillicothe officials plan to clean and seal
a Mail Pouch tobacco mural found on the side of 25 E. 2 nd St. downtown. The
neighboring buildings were torn down because they were damaged by a fire in
July.
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Although a devastating fire stole a chunk of history
from this southern Ohio city, it revealed another old gem to replace it.
While demolishing the buildings at 29 and 33 E. 2 nd St., which were heavily
damaged by the fire July 17 near the Majestic Performing Arts Center,
construction workers and Majestic staff members this week found a Mail Pouch
tobacco mural covering the side of 25 E. 2 nd St.
The downtown buildings were built so close together that the advertisement
was hidden.
It was a sweet surprise to find one piece of well-preserved history as two
others were being destroyed, said Deb Main, operations director for the
Majestic.
"It's been without air contact for over 100 years," she said.
Officials plan to clean and seal the painting to preserve it.
Wilbur Poole stood in the rubble of what used to be his building, 29 E. 2 nd
St., as a light rain fell yesterday.
The sadness of losing the building was somewhat assuaged by the find.
"There's more history in that than there ever was in these two buildings,"
he said, pointing toward the painting.
The Mail Pouch Tobacco company began in West Virginia in the late 1800s. The
company launched a nationwide advertising campaign to paint Mail Pouch signs
on barns and other buildings, many of which are considered historical
landmarks now.
Painting ads on exposed outside walls was common in the 1800s and early
1900s, said Pat Medert, an archivist at the Ross County Historical Society.
The building at 25 E. 2 nd St. was built in 1880, and 29 and 33 E. 2 nd St.
were built in 1892, she said.
The ad also says "Notions, toys and fancy goods" at the top.
Medert, who wrote a book about the history of 2 nd Street, said the building
at one time was leased by a "notions" shop, which likely sold items such as
gloves and hosiery.
A few blocks away, Medert said, there was a flower shop ad from the early
1900s on the side of the Carlisle Building, which was damaged by a fire in
2003. She said she'll have to research whether there are any others from
that period in Chillicothe.
Workers were clearing away the last of the demolished 2 nd Street buildings
yesterday, and everyone was hoping to find a date or an artist name on the
Mail Pouch mural, said Rick Mytinger, whose company owns 25 E. 2 nd St.
"That might be worth more than the whole building," he said.
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