Ghost Sign Story: Home is Where the Ghosts Are

faded hand-painted sign for Kaufmann's Department Store painted on brick wall
Everything Under the Sun: Kaufmann’s, The Big Store. One of many ghost signs for home goods. Tarentum

Everything under the sun! Everything for everybody! Everything to wear!

Believe it or not, The Internet didn’t invent superlatives, big promises, and in-your-face advertising. No, it just ceased to make them mean anything.

We’re back with our second catch-all review of the ghost signs cleaned out of the attic. This time: house goods—department stores, clothing, furniture, hardware—you get the idea.

faded hand-painted sign for Kaufmann's Department Store painted on brick wall
Kaufmann’s, Homestead
hand-painted sign for clothing store painted on brick wall
Ike ? Clothing, Ford City
faded hand-painted sign for department store painted on brick wall
Sack’s Dept. Store, Burgettstown
hand-painted sign for department store painted on brick wall
Brooks Department Store, Monessen
faded hand-painted sign for clothing store painted on brick wall
Israel Simon Bargain Store, Southside
faded hand-painted sign for clothing store painted on brick wall
Gusky’s #1, Lawrenceville
faded hand-painted sign for clothing store painted on brick wall
Gusky’s #2, Lawrenceville
faded hand-painted sign for department store painted on brick wall
Stern’s, Monessen
faded hand-painted sign for department store painted on brick wall
Shenkan’s, Tarentum
hand-painted sign for furniture store painted on brick wall
Housermann Furniture, Wheeling, WV
hand-painted sign for furniture store painted on brick wall
Goorin & Harris, Furniture and Appliances, Rochester, PA
faded hand-painted sign for hardware store painted on brick wall
Quality Hardware, Pittston, PA
hand-painted sign for hardware store painted on brick wall
Fink’s Hardware, Tyrone, PA
faded hand-painted sign for hardware store painted on brick wall
(unknown) paint, Duquesne
dilapidated sign for retail store
Independent, New Kensington
faded hand-painted sign for appliance parts store painted on brick wall
Universal Appliance Parts, Wheeling
hand-painted sign for tuxedo rental painted on brick wall
Basilon’s Tuxedo Rental & Sales, Ambridge
faded hand-painted sign for sporting goods store painted on brick wall
Oscar Robbins, Uptown
faded hand-painted sign for dry cleaners painted on brick wall
Manuel’s Dry Cleaners, Weirton, WV
faded hand-painted sign painted on brick wall
John White Cash or Credit, Beaver Falls
faded hand-painted sign for variety store painted on brick wall
Mr. Magoo’s Variety Store, Allentown

2 thoughts on “Ghost Sign Story: Home is Where the Ghosts Are”

  2. rogerbeal47 says:
    Reply

    This is a fine collection of mid-20th century archaeology … except for “oilcloth, millinery, cloaks” at Brooks in Monessen which likely dates to <1920.

    Like

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