“I feel like I am saving a piece of history. Your picture is what made it happen.”
Now Mod Betty isn’t one to toot her own horn, but when someone says that you, you can’t help but feel a little honored and humbled. Little ol’ me? Driving around snapping photos of things that caught my eye? Yep!
Here’s the email I received from Retro Roadmap Reader Kevin, now the proud owner of a vintage Coca-Cola sign:
Like you I love the Retro look.I found this script Coca Cola sign which was taken apart and under a tarp basically in the beginning stages of deterioration. I couldn’t let it deteriorate so I purchased it and am having it shipped to Dayton Ohio, my home, where I am going to have it totally restored.
I feel like I am saving a piece of history.
Your picture is what made it happen.I was having a difficult time trying to figure out where the sign came from. I told my step-fathers brother about it and he did some research as did I and he found your picture. The next morning a friend of mine from middle school emailed me and said “thats pretty cool I live in Derry, about a 1/2 hour from where that sign used to be” and later found the sign where it was lying under a bunch of tarps. My childhood friend and I had lost touch and truthfully I didn’t know where he lived!
Well the 15 foot long sign is now safe! We are now able to measure, weigh, pack securely and have it transported to Dayton.
Betty, isn’t that a cool story and I truly believe you and your camera have a lot to do with saving a piece of American heritage.
And just think Retro Roadmap Readers – you too may be able to preserve a bit of history with YOUR camera! You never know when your snapshots will turn into historic archives.
Now, I’ll be honest, the sign doesn’t look exactly the same to me, but considering Mod B has had a bad streak of luck with some of her Retro Roadmap fave places closing up, it’s nice to know that I’ve been instrumental in helping to preserve a bit of history!
Anna Borg
January 11, 2013 at 2:50 pmYou do great work!
Mod Betty
January 11, 2013 at 3:35 pmThanks hon! I just do what I do, and hope it helps!
Heather Plank
January 11, 2013 at 3:16 pmWay to go, Mod Betty! Saving the Retro World one sign at a time!
Mod Betty
January 11, 2013 at 3:35 pmYeah- go ME! 😉
Debra Jane
January 12, 2013 at 1:02 amNeat story — but, yeah, the “C” in Cola is different so it must be a different sign. It doesn’t look like it had neon either. So, its original location is still a mystery. The Parkersburg, WV Coca-Cola plant (still operating) has a sign like the one that was in Salem:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agilitynut/7120289187/
Mod Betty
January 12, 2013 at 11:04 amI noticed the differences too, but then realized that perhaps while this sign was not the sign in my old photo it also could have still been from that bottling plant, but perhaps attached to one of the brick walls.
Jen
January 12, 2013 at 3:40 pmWow, that’s very cool. I get emails frequently about things I’ve photographed‚Äîeither because they are gone, or as in the cases of several homes & businesses, because they’re newly-owned and back in business. Those are probably the most fun emails I receive, really!
Mod Betty
January 13, 2013 at 7:51 amIsn’t it a nice feeling to know that somehow the photos we take make a positive difference in someone’s life. It is indeed a thrill, and I’m glad I’m not the only one that gets ’em 🙂
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