In this week's edition of Rewind, Robert Smith displays a number of pictures — nearly all from the past days of harness racing and things surrounding it. Mainly pictorial in nature, his old photos are all about signs.

Signs have been part of our culture throughout recorded history and even beyond. References to sign-like images in caves may have been some of the earliest examples. We have used signs to direct people to destinations, advertise products, show where people lived and worked, and for countless other purposes. It’s hard to imagine life without signs, even though they have evolved somewhat over the years.

POP THE SIGN PAINTER

When I was growing up, our farm community had a well-known sign painter. As far as I know, he earned a living throughout his entire lifetime painting signs of all kinds. He was truly a legendary character in every sense of the word. Self-taught he was, and his skills always seemed in demand. He was a jolly fellow, well liked by everyone, and indeed a man who travelled to the beat of a different drum. He was even occasionally sober — but not necessarily by design.

His given name was actually Winston, but I doubt that, other than a few people either related to him or closely tied in some other way, anyone would have known that fact. He was known and loved by all simply as Pop! My mother had attended the same one-room school with him, so we knew him for sure. He painted names on barns, pickup and larger trucks, mailboxes, business signs — just about anywhere a sign was required. If you needed a sign, chances are pretty good that Pop could come up with one!

I believe at one time trade schools included sign painting as a skill for people to pursue. I think that course was dropped a long time ago. Today, I’m quite sure that very few signs are still hand painted.

Shown below are a bevy of signs, as varied as I could find. They are in no particular order, just randomly displayed to better explain today’s theme. I have numbered them simply as a reference point in case someone has a question or a comment.

1. This beautiful old barn bearing the sign “Northfields” has stood at this site for over one hundred years and has been kept in immaculate condition by several generations of the same family. It is at the home of Dr. John and Robin McKnight of Meaford, Ontario. Prior to being the birthplace and early home to many well-bred Standardbreds, it enjoyed a long life as a dairy barn.

2. A lot of great ones started out at this farm located near Ingersoll, Ont.

3. This farm marker was located at the training grounds of many standout performers — and an equally great trainer — for over 40 years in LaSalle, Ont.

4. A nice, neat-looking sign welcomes visitors to the great home of countless Hanover horses.

5. All signs have a purpose, and this one was pretty straightforward.

6. This was the home barn of many accomplished horses and some very fine people. I took this photo many years ago during a visit to chat with Duncan Campbell, farm owner and patriarch of the clan.

7. The barn of Wm. H. Herbert, located at Lambeth, Ont. — the birthplace and early training grounds for many great horses of the past century. I took this picture many years ago while visiting William. (Author’s Collection)

8. An iconic sign indeed from one of the all-time great stables ever.

9. Hambletonian sign at Hayes Fair Acres. The DuQuoin State Fair in Du Quoin, Illinois, was home to the fabled Hambletonian from 1957 to 1980.

10. Displaying names on vehicles such as horse trucks has long been a practice in the harness racing world.

11. A nice old reminder from the town track in Petrolia, Ont., home to numerous fine horse people.

12. Imagine a sign that welcomes visitors to an entire province.

Quote for the Week: "A business with no sign is a sign of no business." — Perhaps a slogan from a sign company.

Who Is It?

Can you identify this gentleman? He was involved in our sport for a very long time.

Who Else Is It?

Can you correctly identify these two fellows from a 1980s photo?

Blast from the Past

Not all signs are elaborate — as long as they get the message across. Who can tell us where this old photo was taken?

Sign Trivia

For many years, a well-known Ontario-based horseman had a slightly different sign displayed on the back of his horse truck. It read: “[Correct name] KEEPS HORSES, HORSES KEEP [Correct name].” 

Who was this fellow, now long departed? His last name is sufficient and should be in both blank spots. Note – No clues given, but maybe one is not too far away.

(The correct answers will be posted here by Robert as a comment in a few days.)