signs

by Cynthia MacKinnon-Morris

This sign photography is a fun hobby! Used to be that we just pointed out unique signs, puzzled over them or alternately, laughed at their possible significances. Then, later when we tried to recall the exact wording, it was lost (neither of us have good memories). Voila! we now have a photo journal for reference! I know, I know, you must be thinking...Oh those Stiltskins, what exciting lives they lead over there in the midwest, land of...corn stalks. Our hobby does keep Scott off the streets during non-NFL season, so a purpose it does serve indeed.

Our first sign of the trip was discovered in western Kentucky. Except for its size (must have been, oh, 40 feet high! easily the tallest structure in the town), the sign is reminiscent of small southern town establishments: "Bubba's Hardware, Bowling and Haircuts" or "Billie-Jo's Towing and Car Wash." I must admit that this can also occur in B.C. -- once upon a time, in the thriving metropolis of Deroche (pop. 68; including my Grampa and Gramma, pop. 70)-- there was Shig's General Store which offered everything from candy and snacks to freshly smoked bacon to paint to nails to dresses to fabrics & notions to appliances PLUS a lunch counter. But, Shig is long gone. The store now is strictly snacks, videos, cigarettes, lottery and booze. Guess the clientele has changed some. I can't help but wondering about this proprietor though, I wonder if he was just offering a nice service or did he want to corner the market on ethnic cuisine?




This sign is located right on the border between Kentucky and Illinois, just after one crosses the Mississippi or Ohio (depending on your starting point). Now, I know that cigarettes are inexpensive in Kentucky (tobacco growing state), but we get them cheaper from Moldavia on the internet!





Arthur, Illinois is in the heart of Amish country. There are darn near as many buggies on the road as cars. And, the town offers a horse and buggy parking lot (now there's a municipal job to aspire to--horse and buggy lot clean-up). One does see warning signs along the road to watch out for buggies and they all have the inverted reflective triangles on the bumpers--except for a very few "modern" ones, which sport a red-flashing light (which I think is entirely sensible, but then I also think the concept of going to school through grade 12 sensible, so what do I know). I guess it stands to reason that there would be a market for used buggies.




This one below is our favourite. The Amish may be peaceful people of the land who eschew all things modern--especially ENTERTAINMENT!--but they are also entrepreneurs. I do find it odd that they are so well-known for their travel trailer/ motor home construction, yet would find the owning/ usage of these as sinful. So, it seems a touch hypocritical to turn a profit catering to the "English."