Wednesday, August 5, 2015

finer

Uncool Tim Hortons billboard sign blocking the view of a finer painted sign in Rochester



An announcement in the Mt Morris Enterprise from March, 1953 states  

The Frank A Rivers Furniture Company 
announces the addition of 
Mr Gordon V Masten
57 Chapel Street
Mt Morris, N.Y.
to its staff
Mr Masten invites his many friends in the Genesee Valley Country to visit him at the Frank A Rivers Furniture Co.  He will be pleased to advise and assist in your selection of quality furniture, rugs, appliances, etc.  Come in anytime.

For over 42 years the Frank A Rivers Furniture Company has provided the folks of Rochester and the whole Genesee Country with fine quality furniture at reasonable prices. Throughout the years Mr Frank A Rivers has maintained an enviable reputation for reliability, integrity, and honest dealing, for giving his customers full value, and a little extra, for their furniture dollars.  You'll get courteous attention and quick service always, and of course, easy budget financing can always be arranged.

The Frank A.
RIVERS FURNITURE COMPANY 
226 South Avenue                                                   open Tues and Thurs nights
Rochester, New York                                                            all day Mon and Sat

Apart from the vagueness of the business hours (what if you want to shop on  a Wed, or a Fri?) I find it interesting that Mr Masten's home address is included in the announcement. But then I guess this was a small town newspaper and things were more lax and personal in the '50s. I had to look up Mt Morris and found it to be about 37 miles southwest and almost an hours drive according to mapquest, which would be a fair commute I would think at that time. It is near Letchworth State Park, and when I saw a bit in the google lists about the Mount Morris Italian Festival (now in its 19th year!) I suddenly had a flashback memory of a drive to Corning and the Finger Lakes and getting trapped in a detour and traffic jam. Yep, that would have been Mt Morris. I had thought of driving through Letchworth until the heavy clouds rolled in and the rain started and I decided to save that for another trip.  It was well over an hour before I could get through the town to the other end and on my way, without even seeing anything of this festival. (and yes, it now slightly bothers me that I don't have a photo of 57 Chapel St for this post when I was so close.)

see what other signs prompt memories at signs, signs

12 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. funny - that was almost the word I used, but I changed it just before hitting publish ;)

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  2. The painted sign is wonderful, a great find.

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    1. I guess the Timmy's sign will block some of the sun, so it may last longer.

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  3. I love seeing signs painted directly on buildings. I've seen some that are decades old.

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    Replies
    1. There's something exciting about finding these.

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  4. Love the old sign! too bad about Timmy's sign!

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  5. Love these old painted signs. Too bad about the Tim Horton's sign. There is some just wrong with frozen hot chocolate. Interesting post.

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    Replies
    1. I agree about the frozen hot chocolate - don't 'get' it.

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  6. Great detective work on this one. Tom The Backroads Traveller

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    Replies
    1. thanks. I'm often surprised at what is found on the internet

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