Ghost Sign: Fletcher’s Castoria – Hancock, NY
This Fletcher’s Castoria ghost ad can be seen on Wheeler Street in Hancock, NY.
Another ride, another roadside thing, another rabbit hole to fall down and research. Other than being able to confidently make out “Fletcher’s” I wasn’t quite sure what the ad was for. When an ad isn’t for something i’ve seen previously, often I have to go home and darken up a photo to look for clues. For example, the ad for Greenback Tobacco from Lincoln, Illinois was unreadable to me without altering the picture.
After some tweaking, I realized this ad says:
Children Cry for Cha. H. Fletcher’s Castoria
Apparently Fletcher’s Castoria was a well-advertised children’s laxative at the turn of the 20th century.
I love looking into the past… and abandoned ads are a great window. Their fading patina is catnip to me.
They really are. And they provide such an interesting thread to pull when you start looking in to their history.
On the label of the bottle, it said “Children love the taste.” As a child of the 60’s (that would be 1960’s) I can attest that it was still around. Mama kept a bottle real high up out of reach and I can honestly say … I loved the taste!
What a great find! I just love the little gems you always seem to run across.
I love the ghost ads too, but children’s laxative?? I didn’t even know that was a thing. Hehe, I guess we ate enough fiber as kids.