The Writing Is (Not) On The Wall

Albany is dotted with ghost signs, the fading relics of old ads painted on the walls. Previously, I've posted about a Times Union sign on Pearl Street, a 7-Up sign along lower Madison Avenue, and an electrical goods dealer on Liberty Street.

And All Over Albany had a feature on local ghost signs earlier this year.

This is a tiny one on a 19th-century brick building where Central and Washington Avenues converge in a point. The building has several very faint ghost signs on its western wall...what appear to be ads for Pilsbury products and an "Albany Diner" (not to be confused with the current Miss Albany Diner on Broadway). This one, on the south wall, is barely legible and one that escaped my notice until this weekend. Maybe the light was just right or I was looking from just the right angle, but the words Albany, N.Y. seemed to just leap out at me and, thankfully, I'd just put new batteries in my camera.

Sign says...

Sometimes, when you look up at the sides of older buildings downtown, you'll see the ghosts of old painted signs painted on the exterior walls. Most are faded, but just legible enough to see what they once touted.

Most of the ones I've come across are for businesses long gone - like Keeler's, once a popular restaurant.

But this one, on the side of a building on Pearl Street near Lodge Street, advertised a still-active business, the Times Union newspaper.