Signs! Signs! Signs!

           Signs! Signs! Signs! Since the museum was organized in 1979, it has accepted donations of local signs…businesses, organizations, medical and more. A new exhibit at the Historical Society shows off a few from the collection.

One of the oldest is a wooden Katahdin Avenue sign recovered in the 1980’s during a porch renovation. Another, with an interesting story, has one word MUSEUM, on it. This sign was created by Merrill Segee, one of the founders of MHS.  He found the piece of wood (53 inches long, 10 inches wide) on the shore of North Twin Lake…it was a from an old rowboat. Bill Leino, local artist, painted the sign. The chain it hangs from was from a window behind the paper room wrapper, c1901.

 Six metal signs advertising clothing items from the Rush Brothers businesses on Penobscot Ave. were designed to catch the buyer’s attention. From the 1920’s, these 12 in. by 26 in. colorful signs were displayed inside one or more of the family stores…#1. “Style & Fit for Every Foot,” #2. “Sturdy School Shoes,” #3 “Men’s Shoes,” and #4. “Stylish Shoes,” were made to attract attention. Designed specifically for the ladies were signs #5 “Neckware for Ladies,” and #6 “Corsets, Perfect Fitting.”

Other business signs include a Charles Madden Hardware sign (metal) and a plexiglass sign from C.R. STEEVES & Son Hardware. One advertising Dragon Cement was dug up several years ago near a home on Congress Street. There is also a Currie Construction Company sign, one for Reed’s Insurance and one from L. P. Montgomery, Watchmaker

The museum’s logging room displays a large green and black metal sign with the GNP tree logo. We were told it came from the Ward’s Dam gate.  Also in the same room is a small sign “LeGassey’s Camp, 3 mi.”

The local medical profession is well represented in signs. A wooden sign states L.W. Morey, Osteopathic Physician (Morey also had a private hospital.) The first local hospital was Millinocket General Hospital located on Maine Avenue. A sign from that hospital represents the practice of Drs. Young and Grumley. It was the town’s hospital until the Millinocket Community Hospital opened in 1955. When a block (next to the downtown parking lot was being renovated, the museum received two frosted glass door panels from two doctors’ offices. Doctors, dentists and other professionals often had their offices on the 2^nd floor above retail stores.

A small Opera House sign and one stating Band Concert Tonight are in the collection. Also a large sign from the Odd Fellows Hall and a GNP Woodlands Division sign. The last two are presently in storage as space at the current museum is limited.