lettersfromhere: Vernacular Typography is the creation of graphic designer and Brooklyn native Molly Woodward, who has spent the past decade taking photos of the city’s “found lettering.” All over the city, and the world, local signage is disappearing and being replaced with mass-produced signs and the brands of global corporations. Molly is trying to preserve it—and she has a Kickstarter campaign to help do that.I asked her a few questions about “endangered local signage.”   Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York: Vernacular Typography
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lettersfromhere:

Vernacular Typography is the creation of graphic designer and Brooklyn native Molly Woodward, who has spent the past decade taking photos of the city’s “found lettering.” All over the city, and the world, local signage is disappearing and being replaced with mass-produced signs and the brands of global corporations. Molly is trying to preserve it—and she has a Kickstarter campaign to help do that.

I asked her a few questions about “endangered local signage.”

  Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York: Vernacular Typography

Source: vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com

mollyblock: Same building: different side *and* different ghost sign. The previous photo shows the back of the building, which most people probably don’t see. If you missed it, check it out — it’s pretty awesome. (Taken with instagram in Corsicana, Texas)
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mollyblock:

Same building: different side *and* different ghost sign. The previous photo shows the back of the building, which most people probably don’t see. If you missed it, check it out — it’s pretty awesome. (Taken with instagram in Corsicana, Texas)

Source: mollyblock

mollyblock: I like it here. (Taken with Instagram at Smith General Store in downtown Corsicana, Texas)
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mollyblock:

I like it here. (Taken with Instagram at Smith General Store in downtown Corsicana, Texas)

Source: mollyblock

mollyblock: Two ghost signs on the same building. Bonus! (Taken with Instagram at Bishop Arts District in Dallas, Texas)
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mollyblock:

Two ghost signs on the same building. Bonus! (Taken with Instagram at Bishop Arts District in Dallas, Texas)

Source: mollyblock

I’ve always been intrigued by the placement of this ghost sign: It’s painted on the side of a three-story building (in downtown Houston) that dates back to 1882. The building’s currently surrounded by other buildings, so unless you know the sign’s there, you probably wouldn’t see it. Definitely an instance for which I’d love to know the back story.
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I’ve always been intrigued by the placement of this ghost sign: It’s painted on the side of a three-story building (in downtown Houston) that dates back to 1882. The building’s currently surrounded by other buildings, so unless you know the sign’s there, you probably wouldn’t see it. Definitely an instance for which I’d love to know the back story.

Source: instagr.am

Featured: @pantone356's Boston Signage Project

Via pantone356:

instagram:

The Boston Herald has profiled Instagrammer Keith Sliney (@pantone356) and his Boston Signage Project, an effort to capture 100 iconic signs in the Boston area. Check out the article for all the details, then take a look at the #100bostonsigns tag to view all the photos that make up this project, which Sliney hopes to complete by September 2011.

In addition to his Boston Signage Project, Keith also oversees the Instagram account for the Boston Celtics basketball team, @celtics, the most popular professional sports account on Instagram. 

So fired up about this

Love Keith’s photography and his project — and his use of Instagram to showcase it. Some of my earlier Ghost Signs and Ads posts are of Keith’s work. See ‘em here.

Source: instagram

mollyblock: This vacant industrial building has not only a #ghostsign on it, but a yellow coat hanging from one of its windows. #awesome (Taken with instagram) Subsequent note: In recent years, at least one club has operated out of the building (which could help explain the presence of the coat!). The warehouse is located at 2001 Commerce Street — within shouting distance of Minute Maid Park — east of downtown Houston. Thanks to a Google search, I now know that Graybar Electric Company was formerly housed in the building. The company’s old logos jibe with the ghost sign’s faded paint. See history.graybar.com/1942-1964.php and history.graybar.com.
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mollyblock:

This vacant industrial building has not only a #ghostsign on it, but a yellow coat hanging from one of its windows. #awesome (Taken with instagram)

Subsequent note: In recent years, at least one club has operated out of the building (which could help explain the presence of the coat!). The warehouse is located at 2001 Commerce Street — within shouting distance of Minute Maid Park — east of downtown Houston.

Thanks to a Google search, I now know that Graybar Electric Company was formerly housed in the building. The company’s old logos jibe with the ghost sign’s faded paint. See history.graybar.com/1942-1964.php and history.graybar.com.

Source: mollyblock

snaphook: BOSTON SIGNAGE PROJECT (23 of #100bostonsigns) Vintage Quaker Oats #ghostsign is clinging to life but still proudly displayed on an apartment building on the corner of Cambridge and Grove Streets. (Taken with Instagram at Villa Mexico Cafe) Another great shot taken by fellow ghost sign fan Keith Sliney (@pantone356), as part of his 100BostonSigns project.
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snaphook:

BOSTON SIGNAGE PROJECT (23 of #100bostonsigns) Vintage Quaker Oats #ghostsign is clinging to life but still proudly displayed on an apartment building on the corner of Cambridge and Grove Streets. (Taken with Instagram at Villa Mexico Cafe)

Another great shot taken by fellow ghost sign fan Keith Sliney (@pantone356), as part of his 100BostonSigns project.

Source: pantone356

100bostonsigns: This century-old sign is located on Canal Street, one block away from the TD Garden. The original text displayed “Allen, Thompson, Whitney Co, Manufacturers of Chairs, 112 Canal St.” in a great slab serif typeface. The company was formed in 1898 (formerly the Boston Chair Company) and had their sales offices located here. Currently the building is being used by Boston Beerworks. Cheers to kick-ass faded signs! Another reblogged post via Keith Sliney (a.k.a. 100BostonSigns and on Twitter and Instagram, @pantone356).
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100bostonsigns:

This century-old sign is located on Canal Street, one block away from the TD Garden. The original text displayed “Allen, Thompson, Whitney Co, Manufacturers of Chairs, 112 Canal St.” in a great slab serif typeface. The company was formed in 1898 (formerly the Boston Chair Company) and had their sales offices located here. Currently the building is being used by Boston Beerworks. Cheers to kick-ass faded signs!

Another reblogged post via Keith Sliney (a.k.a. 100BostonSigns and on Twitter and Instagram, @pantone356).

Source: 100bostonsigns

100bostonsigns: This sign is on an old warehouse in the Charlestown Navy Yard not far from the USS Constitution. I believe it was most recently used by Borden Candy (which was later bought out by NEECO). More interesting is the barely readable “White Star” near the top. I’m not sure what was going on here 100 years ago, but the White Star Line was a notable British shipping company which built some damn famous vessels, including the Titanic. Reblogging this from my Boston-based friend (and fab photographer), Keith Sliney, @pantone356 on Twitter and Instagram.
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100bostonsigns:

This sign is on an old warehouse in the Charlestown Navy Yard not far from the USS Constitution. I believe it was most recently used by Borden Candy (which was later bought out by NEECO). More interesting is the barely readable “White Star” near the top. I’m not sure what was going on here 100 years ago, but the White Star Line was a notable British shipping company which built some damn famous vessels, including the Titanic.

Reblogging this from my Boston-based friend (and fab photographer), Keith Sliney, @pantone356 on Twitter and Instagram.

Source: 100bostonsigns