18th? 19th? How about 20th?

Maybe it was the fact we were in a city with roots back to the 17th Century,

but when we found this sign, we felt it had to be old.

Really old. 

And it is. Just not as old as we thought.

The company dates back to 1921.

And Philadelphia's Ghost Sign Project captures the layers where it has been repainted.

Clues?

In Hamilton, at 127 and Heaton, we saw this on a recent pass through the community.

Is it a partial "Hamilton", or simply "Milton"?

We didn't have time to look around the rest of the building, but on the east side, Google Earth shows us more ghost signage, for Mohawk Papers and "machine shop."

Columbus

Offered to us by Mr. B. Johnson from his recent visit to Columbus, Ohio.

A good ghost sign hunter is always ready to capture a shot at a moment's notice.

Beaver, Ohio

Yes, there is a Beaver, in Pike County.

It's the ancestral home of Mr. B. Johnson, frequent contributor to this site.

Although, he'd never recognized this as a ghost sign.

4 Floors

Again, in Hamilton, on Third.

Much of this one has gone away, but we can still make out a "4" to the left, and we assume the "OORS" was preceded with a "FL" or maybe a "D".

However, our trusty assistant, Google Maps, indicates only three floors and maybe an attic.

But more importantly, look what's across the street!

No. It's gone now. Painted over. 

Hamilton!

Work took us to Hamilton, where we found this.

There's a lot going on.

Let's deconstruct.

To the left, there's what appears to be Strauss & Co. Clothiers sharing space with another sign.  (Note the different letter styles between the Strauss and whatever is below it.)

To the right, there's at least two big brand names of something painted over one another.  Perhaps at one time there was the word "Admiral".  But there's also what appears to be an X in the name as well.

Below that, we can just make out the word "Cigars".

A quick peek at Google Earth images from High Street and 3rd indicates that sometime between July 2013 and July 2015, this was uncovered.

Now that you have it back, Hamilton, keep it around!

The Big Queasy

Butt's Liver Pills, in New Orleans.

As captured by Ms. E. Correll, on her recent foray.

I'm Leaving Today

And so our vicarious trip to New York, New York ends with a photo

from the front seat of car as Ms. E. Correll and Mr. B. Johnson 

head to the airport.

Thanks to both for keeping an eye out and thinking of us on their journey.

For the rest of you:

Keep watching the tops of buildings.

Bags of New York

From Ms. E. Correll and Mr. B. Johnson in NYC.

Hide 'n Seek

You may have to search for today's ghost sign in this photo from Ms. E. Correll and

Mr. B. Johnson.

It's Macy's!

They apologize for not getting a better view.

Start Spreading the News

Two of our agents, Ms.E. Correll and Mr. B. Johnson recently returned

from an excursion to New York City, where they found several ghost signs for us.

This, however, is not a ghost sign, as C.O. Bigelow is still in business.

More from their trip all this week.

Hello, You Beauty, You

Near the intersection of First and North Keowee.

So much going on.  So much to capture.

You can't tell from this angle, but there's another Coca-Cola sign on this south face too.

And so we bid a fond farewell to Dayton.

Next week, our agents return from New York City, with a haul.

Music and Beauty

Downtown Dayton does not have a lot of ghost signs.

Tomorrow, our last entry from the Gem City.

Whitewashed

Again, on East 3rd, in the Webster Station district of Dayton.

Dayton

This is on the back side of the building that also features this.

"Wholesale" is still legible, but not much else.

Below that... ? 

It almost looks like the concrete was added later.  

But that would be ridiculous, wouldn't it?

Webster Street

Just north of Dayton's Second Street Market.

Plummer Plummer

On Wayne, near Bradford.

As we stopped to get this one, the guy yelled from the bus stop across the street. 

"Is that still a day care?"  

Don't know. Not from around here.

"It used to be a day care."

Okay.

Something's Afoot at the Circle KK

Again, in Dayton's Webster Station neighborhood, and again,

not technically a ghost sign. (But it is faded ad art.)

The KK Motorcycle Supply Co. is still in business, dealing in

after-market bike products, 

Looks Familiar

Frankly, we had hoped for more ghost signage in Dayton's Oregon District, however, what was lacking in quantity, was more than made up in quality.

We've had an Owl Cigar advert featured here before, but it was in Nebraska.

Lowe Bros. Part 2

Walk down what appears to be an alley next to the previous entry and you'll find this.

There are a couple of ghost signs in this alley, which makes us believe at some point, it was more than an alley.  

After all, why would you spend money on a wall sign in a low-traffic area?

This is in the same alleyway.