Throwback Thursday: Ghost Signs of the Village

What could be better on Throwback Thursday than taking a look-see at the advertisements of yesteryear that are still visible today? Ghost signs, or fading ads, have been described a number of different ways. The most common is an old painted sign (including letters and images) on the side of a building advertising a product or business no longer sold or in business. Some descriptions also include signage on the front of a building for a commercial tenant that is now gone. Either way, there are some gems in the Village.

This paper supply ad on Jones Street is particularly hard to make out.

GVSHP wrote an interesting post on this “Parodi Factory” ghost sign in 2012.

The sign for both  Hygrade Beef and Avignone Chemists is quite visible, since the facade faces into Sir Winston Churchill Square. It might not fit the classic definition of a ghost sign though, as it advertises businesses that are still going strong. But I particularly like the old telephone exchange for Avignone Chemists.

While this Knickerbocker Boarding sign might not be a “classic” ghost sign, it sure does tell you a lot about the building’s history. Check out this past Off the Grid post on the building.

If you like these ghost signs, you should check out the blog Fading Ads, by Frank Jump. The blog features posts on fading ads across New York City and the country. And let us know in the comments if you have some favorite ghost signs in the Village of your own.