Chuck DImperio - Signs of Distinction: The History of New York State as Told by 51 Welcome Signs

SIGNS
OF DISTINCTION

SIGNS
OF DISTINCTION

THE HISTORY OF NEW YORK STATE
AS TOLD BY 51 WELCOME SIGNS

CHUCK DIMPERIO

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

2022 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

Excelsior Editions is an imprint of State University of New York Press

For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY
www.sunypress.edu

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: DImperio, Chuck, author.

Title: Signs of distinction : the history of New York State as told by 51 welcome signs / Chuck DImperio.

Description: Albany : State University of New York Press, [2022] | Series: Excelsior editions | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021061485 (print) | LCCN 2021061486 (ebook) | ISBN 9781438488912 (pbk. : alk paper) | ISBN 9781438488929 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Village signsNew York (State) | New York (State)History, Local.

Classification: LCC F119 .D56 2022 (print) | LCC F119 (ebook) | DDC 974.7dc23/eng/20220126

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021061485

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021061486

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I have written nearly a dozen books about my native Upstate New York. Each book takes a look at a different aspect of the region. One book looked at the many famous (and infamous) people who are buried in Upstate (like Hollywoods first movie villain, and the first Black player in organized baseball, and no, it is not Jackie Robinson). Another explored the rich food history of the region (sponge candy, anyone?). Still another looks several of the famous homes across Upstate. And yet another examined the smaller, unknown museums of the region (like the Kazoo Museum!).

Having traveled, researched, and written so many books and articles about Upstate New York, I feel as if I have been everywhere. Of course, that is not true, but it feels like it. And one thing has always intrigued me in my travels.

The welcome signs.

I have given many talks all over the state about my books, and I always tell my crowds that if their town, no matter how big or small it is, has a story, then for goodness sake put it out there and let people know. So many places just ignore this one small opportunity to broadcast their history to those, like me, who are just passing through but who, if alerted, will no doubt stop and explore a little bit.

So, this book.

As I traveled around, I would come upon all of these great welcome signs that actually told a story of the place where it is located. And yes, I always stop. The stories are fascinating, and I felt it would make an interesting book to compile some of the best signs.

My only criterion was that the sign really did tell something about the town, some history, some DNA of the place. I was not looking for platitudes or Hallmark-type slogans that were pretty and fanciful but really meant nothing.

Let me explain. Wouldnt you think, for example, that Corning, New York, might have an artistically beautiful sign at its entrance saying, Welcome to Corning. The Glass Capital of the World. Or something similar. Well, I couldnt find it. They do have what looks like a state-issued sign with the name Corning on it but, well, in a word, boring.

Even the city that I lived and worked in for nearly forty years, Oneonta, missed the boat and therefore missed being in this book. Oneontas moniker is City of the Hills. Pretty, descriptive, Hallmark-y. Everyone in the city loves that nickname passionately and has fought attempts to change it. Including me.

But I think a better sign might read, Welcome to Oneonta, NY: Former Home of the Worlds Largest Railroad Roundhouse. Now, that would get me to stop and snoop around! City of the Hills, yes, the mountains are beautiful. But, hey, all mountains are, arent they?

In retirement, my wife and I moved twenty miles down the road from Oneonta to a little village called Unadilla. And, surprise. Unadilla gets it!

My heart smiled when we first crossed the bridge into the village and read the welcome sign: Welcome to Unadilla, N.Y. Home of Boy Scout Troop #1. History right in the front window. I love that sign. It tells of an important component to the villages history (there even is a small Boy Scout museum on Main Street), and, well, it looks pretty darn nice on a welcome sign.

So, Unadilla made this book.

There are so many towns that took a swing when creating their welcome signs, but, frankly, whiffed. I will let others write about them. In these pages you will find The Book Village of the Catskills, Birthplace of Elsie the Cow, The Arbor Day Village, Home of the Pledge of Allegiance, Trout Town U.S.A., Site of the Worlds Largest Living Sign, and New Yorks very own Gaslight Village. All are fascinating stories, and all are right there to see on the welcome signs, you know, out there, by the edge of town.

If you have already bought my other Upstate New York books, then I am preaching to the choir. You love history and all of its little factoids. I mean, you are the type who will stop at the sign that reads, Welcome to Gorham. Bandstand of the Finger Lakes, and ask a few questions. Arent you? I thought so.

There are 51 chapters in this book. Not all signs are worthy of great, long sagas or histories to tell. But they all have something of interest to share with the passing journeyman. And there is one with which I would like to lead off this book.

The sign found in little Pratts Hollow, New York, tells of what just might be the little map dots only claim to fame. It is not much, really. Just a simple sign. It is posted on the exterior wall of the church at the four corners that, I think, constitute all of the hamlet of Pratts Hollow.

I visited the location to take a photo for this book to illustrate what I was looking for, conceptually, for Signs of Distinction. The sign, black letters on a white board, was way up over the backdoor entrance of the building. Very high up. An unusual spot for such a sign.

I walked over to a neighboring house and asked a kindly old gent who looked like he had lived in Pratts Hollow all his long life why the sign was so high up on the building. His answer to me was, Well, sir, I dont really reckon I know. But a lot of the signs before had been stolen, probably by college students down the road at Colgate University for their dorm rooms. It is a pretty odd sign. Im not sure, but that might be the reason why they stuck the new one up so high. Out of reach, dont you know?

Ill bet he is right. Because even if Pratts Hollow appears to be just a quiet, four-country-road intersection tucked away in a corner of the town of Eaton in Madison County, it does have a great story to tell.

In the middle of the sign is an outline of New York State. The text reads: Pratts Hollow. The Geographical Center of NYS. Boom, thats the story!

Every place has a story to tell, and I hope that after reading this book some of the powers that be across the state will decide to put their fame and glory out on a welcome sign to let us all know what happened in their town or city.