On a dog walk, I noticed this sign for the umpteenth time. There’s just something about a person with three holes for eyes and a mouth… My husband took some family pictures for some folks at our church and he took one of them standing around one of these signs, holding their arms in the air, eyes open wide, and making Os with their mouths. Hilarious!
These have a neat efficiency to them. All the park district has to do, when the Danger Season for Skating changes back to the Danger Season for Swimming, is swap out a single word. The picture shows an unwanted future both for swimmers and skaters. For some reason, I find this very clever.
When I was taking the picture, I got a little closer and noticed something else.
Who’s this Anne Stentiford? And what happened in 1969?
After some internet research, I discovered that Stentiford is the owner of a sign company in Baton Rouge, called Tri-Safety Symbol Signs. It doesn’t seem to have a website. All I can think is that she copyrighted this sign design in 1969. Maybe she came up with the three-hole-faced person and the switchable “SKATING/SWIMMING” idea? But why isn’t there a copyright symbol there, too?
I found someone on eBay who is trying to get some mileage out of that “1969” date, claiming this sign is “Vintage.” Also, he claims it’s a sign from “Baton Rouge, LA.” He’s asking 85 bucks. Buyer beware. At least the BB holes and faded color give it some character – maybe that’s worth the $85. Like you can just imagine it hanging over a Louisiana swimming hole where backwoods kids shot it up between cannonball dives.
Or maybe they lived in New Jersey.
Maybe I’ll start checking out other signs, to see if they have names on them? Manhole covers do.
I’m still curious about Anne Stentiford… just seems like there’s a story there. Maybe I’ll write her and find out?
