Inaugural Sign

This blog's very first sign is nearby your humble blogger's home, and is one of the pair of signs on either side of the building at 1208 Harmon Place.

As is reasonably legible in the sign, it's for H.A. Holden Inc., apparently a maker of electric motors and parts. As of this writing, a 1953 product catalog is up for auction on eBay. Holden was apparently acquired by Genuine Parts in 1999, although the press release for the completion of that transaction suggests that the company wasn't founded until 1954.

My alloted time for internet search on the history of this sign as expired without turning up much more that's worth reporting, but regardless, this sign is a fitting place to start in exploring what can be learned about the history of a former industrial town from the ghosts left in paint on some of it's older remaining walls.

Update:  Construction is well underway for the "summer" opening of a Lunds wine and spirits shop.  The good folks at Lund's tell us that the building is known as the Sturr-Bullard Motor Company Building and was built in 1914. Even better, it appears they are going to preserve the signs (at least so far).  Good for Lund's!