Painted Signs on Brick Buildings

Painting signs directly on to buildings, especially on to blank brick space, was a popular form of advertising for many years prior to the advent of mass market advertising such as television. Local businesses frequently had signs or wording painted on their buildings to catch the eye of the passer-by. Some businesses did this form of advertising on a much wider level, such as the old “Mail Pouch” signs of the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company of West Virginia or the famous Chattanooga “See Rock City” signs painted on barns across the South. Many fading images of such advertising have been found around Washington County. These reach out to us, almost ghost-like, reminding us of businesses that once were and are no more. This photo gallery shares the signs we have found in Washington County.

Summers Hardware & Supply Co., Johnson City

Summers Hardware Building (side view), Johnson City

The Bee Hive, Johnson City

Coca-Cola (recently repainted), Johnson City

Kress, Johnson City

Chamber of Commerce, Johnson City

Penney’s, Johnson City

Franklin Guaranty, Tennessee Insured General Banking 4%, Johnson City

Coca-Cola, Johnson City

Sears Roebuck, Johnson City

A. B. Cummings store is now more widely known as “the Mail Pouch building.” It was originally painted between 1892 – 1897 and was repainted in 1994. Jonesborough