Ghost Sign Story: Home is Where the Ghosts Are

February 25, 2024March 1, 2024

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”

Paul Schifino says:
February 25, 2024 at 12:01 pm

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I love the INDEPENDENT sign from New Ken the most!

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rogerbeal47 says:
February 26, 2024 at 7:01 pm

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

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