Better Hurry – These Newburgh Ghost Signs Won’t Last Forever!
Hunting for Newburg Ghost Ads
The town of Newburgh, New York isn’t exactly what you’d call a motorcycle destination. At least not for pleasure riding, anyway. It’s a once-grand city that languished for decades in decline and now has an ember of resurrection starting to glow.
Cities like Newburgh, whose heyday has long since passed, are great places to hunt for ghost signs. That’s why I found myself riding through its streets.
One of the upsides of using a motorcycle for these trips is that motorcycle is easy to park, quick to get in and out of and around traffic and can present itself as non-threatening. Especially in the case of the Bonneville. That bike is downright polite.
Large Scale Uneeda Biscuit Sign
Over the past couple of years, I’ve seen quite a few Uneeda Biscuit ghost signs, in several different states. Whenever I do, I’ll think to myself, “yeah, I kinda do need a biscuit.” It’s kind of like an inside joke I tell myself. Perhaps the inside-est of all jokes.
The King of Wheat Foods
Uneeda Biscuit
5¢ Sold only in Packages 5¢
National Biscuit Company
Maxwell House Coffee – Gold Medal Flour
This two-fer is a bit hard to make out – one layer is a Gold Medal Flour ad, and the other a Maxwell House coffee ad. Gold Medal Flour is another popular sight, but I’ve only ever seen one other Maxwell House coffee ad.
“Good to the last drop…” Did you sing the jingle? I did. I’m showing my age.
Another Uneeda Biscuit Ghost Sign
The National Soda Cracker
Gold Medal Flour – Jap-A-Lac
Jap-A-Lac is new to me. Apparently, it was varnish, stain, and enamel made by the Glidden Varnish Company. You learn something new every day.
Though I couldn’t get a very good view of this ghost, we can see it is Jap-A-Lac and Gold Medal Flour.
Jap-A-Lac – Gold Medal Flour
Another Jap-A-Lac and Gold Medal Flour two-fer. I was able to make out most of the writing, but the top and third lines in yellow on the upper right escape me.
Jap-A-Lac
In the Green Can
10 Enamel Colors
Newburgh Ghost Signs are Plentiful
This handful of signs were all on Liberty Street, save for the Maxwell House. There are probably more just waiting to be seen. I hope to get back to look around some more!
Do you have any tips?
Do you know of a town or city with a lot of ghost signs? I’d love to hear about it. Please comment below!
I pass by Newburgh everytime I go to my place upstate. Thanks for all the cool tidbits. Way interesting!!
Newburgh is also home to the Motorcyclepedia Museum http://motorcyclepediamuseum.org/ I stopped by for a brief 5 hour visit a few years ago, and plan to visit again
I STILL not stopped in there!
I’ve always been interested in fading signs but thought it was a peculiar quirk of mine; you’ve validated that interest, for which I thank you. Yesterday, riding home from Canada, the Thruway was naturally backed up all the way to Albany. To avoid the crowd, I traveled side roads (e.g., 9W; 32) through many old, aging towns. I saw lots of these remnants from the past. So touching.
There are so many interesting things hiding in plain sight in those old towns.
New Orleans, used to be a bed and breakfast, owners sold, not sure what it is now.
Google Image search for: uneeda biscuit new orleans
I know just the one you mean!