With more than 50 items on display, the Hoboken Historical Museum in the uptown Shipyard complex succeeds in providing the public with a glimpse into the Mile-Square City’s past through the visual representation of signs on storefronts and streets.
Some of the most notable signs include a huge coffee drop from a Maxwell House factory billboard from the early part of the century, and an ice cream store sign featuring the treat “Monkey Stick,” a chocolate covered banana.
According to museum curator Bob Foster, signs are a great way to learn about a city’s history, since they reveal how vendors and residents communicated through large and small billboards citywide.
“This exhibition reflects the way people sent a message across with signs,” Foster said.
In addition to the signs, the exhibition features pictures of “traces” of past businesses. Foster said there are 36 current “traces” located around Hoboken. Among them are the “United States Testing Company” seal on 1415 Park Ave.; the “Up-Town Bank” on 1400 Washington St. (The Hudson Reporter building); “Drugs” on the storefront at 12th Street and Park Avenue; “Hoboken Brewing Company” on 1125 Hudson St.; and the Breyer’s ice cream sign on 926 Washington St.
“Traces of old signs reveal the original purpose of some re-used buildings,” Foster wrote in the exhibition’s program. “A walk around the city will yield many such ‘traces’ of vanished businesses and adapted buildings.”
On sale in the museum are new signs by BrainWaze Studio, LLC on Jefferson Street in Hoboken. Some of the signs include one that reads: “Hoboken, Birthplace of Baseball 1846,” and another about Indiana “Hoosier Basketball.” The signs are renditions made to look old. Proceeds from the sales of the signs benefit the museum.
Baby parade
The Hoboken Baby Parade, hosted by the museum, was canceled and will be held on June 2 at 11 a.m. in Sinatra Park. The event is free and registration begins at 10 a.m. The parade is for children up to 5 years old. Every child who participates will receive a certificate. Trophies will be awarded to the best-dressed children. For more information on the parade and other museum events call (201) 656-2240 or visit their web site at www.hobokenmuseum.org. The museum is located on 1301 Hudson St. As one of the most active institutions in the city, the museum is always recruiting volunteers, and accepting donations. – E. Mulero
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