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Fading Ads Locationless (Reverse) Cache

This cache has been locked, but it is available for viewing.
Hidden : 8/14/2002
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   virtual (virtual)

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Geocache Description:


They hover on the sides of downtown brick buildings or on wood barns, the faded advertisements for products no longer on the market and for stores long since defunct.

Painted decades ago to hawk everything from flour to cigars to soft drinks or to point the way to stores, these "ghost signs" continue to tell the history of America before superhighways and megamalls.

When the ghost signs were new, the colors often were screamingly vivid, and the lead-based paint helped them hold fast against age and weather.

These signs were never intended to be "charming" or "picturesque." They were nothing more than a highly visible form of advertising placed in conspicuous locations for the purpose of soliciting business.

The sign painters, however, were undeniably skilled artists. The "wall dogs" as they were called, generally worked for one of the major sign companies. They traveled from town to town painting the signs on the walls that were usually prearranged by company representatives. The owner of the wall was often given a "privilege" for use of the wall. That is, a smaller ad for their own store or cafe or whatever was painted above or below the ad for the national product. The painters mixed their own paints to exacting colors. From scaled drawings they executed the designs onto the walls, making sure the lettering was level (even if the wall wasn't) and that it fit properly into the allotted space.

Many of these "hidden treasures" from bygone days are fading away, while others are starting to be preserved giving people a sense of pride in their community.

YOUR TASK: Find a "fading sign." Take a photo of the sign and if possible have your gps in the picture. Log the coordinates of the sign and tell us the location so that others may enjoy these tidbits of our history before they vanish. Only one log per cacher, each location can be logged only once. Do not log locations already logged for other virtual or locationless caches that focus on similar artifacts.

Coordinates for this cache are for a sign located in Fort Pierre, South Dakota. Actually two ads appear on this wall a newer Pepsi sign along with the name of the Chateau Lounge and a fading Coke sign along with the name of Duffy's Cafe. Note: Youngberg Signs painted the Coke ad.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)