You know you’re
a photographer when you’ll drive 57 miles to take a picture of one sign! That’s
exactly what I did. I will admit the trip served a dual purpose. First, I
hunt “ghost signs” those vintage advertising signs that are painted on the sides
of buildings. Recently a fellow Arkansas blogger posted a picture of a
ghost sign in Altheimer, Arkansas. The building
looked pretty unstable and the sign was fading, so I knew a trip was in order
before something happened to the building. The second purpose was my dad. Many
of you know he has Alzheimer’s. Every Alzheimer patient is different, each has their own set of peculiarities. One of my dad’s peculiarities is
his need to GO, GO, GO. Go anywhere! Go anytime! I thought since photographing the sign wouldn't take very long, he would
enjoy going for a ride. So, he, my sister, and I headed down the back roads to Altheimer.
Altheimer is a small town of less than 1,000 people. The town was
named after brothers, Joseph and Louis Altheimer, two Pine Bluff merchants. We found the building very easily. We couldn't have missed it. The old Leake building which was built in 1917 is pretty much all that’s left
of the old downtown area. I searched far and wide and could find nothing about the history of this building.
The building is crumbling; windows all broken out,
the roof seems to be collapsing, and thick vines are cascading down the sides. It looks like the last business that occupied the building was Rusty’s Package
Store. For those of you who don’t know southern dialect, package store is a
term used for a liquor store.
Coming up to
the front door you can still see the name Leake in the entryway tiles. There was a
lot of debris so I couldn’t see the whole word.
It’s always
exciting for me to see a ghost sign. My heart speeds up a little. They are such
a wonderful part of history and advertising. This one is slowly fading away,
but it did not disappoint. It advertised Grapette.
Grapette was a grape
flavored soda introduced in 1939 by Benjamin Tyndle Fooks and bottled right here in
Arkansas in Camden. Grapette invited people to drink their soda whether you were “Thirsty or Not." It was sold in much
of the United States in six-ounce clear glass bottles showing off the
beverage’s purple color. As a child I didn’t get soda very often, but when I did
it was a Grapette or Orangette. The company was sold a couple of times, and
then in 1977 the last purchaser closed down the business and the flavor was
retired in the U.S. In 1986 Grapette was once again produced and sold under the Sam's Choice brand. In early 2000, Grapette International was able to purchase the U.S. rights to the Grapette trademark and the flavor and name were reunited.
photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Now, I’m
thirsty and I really want to go to Walmart for a Grapette soda!
We had a good time and you told the story in such an interesting way. I was just at Walmart and didn't think to buy any. Maybe next time.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll pass on the Grapette, though I really liked the ghost sign and the crumbling building. Hope you had a good outing with your Dad, too.
ReplyDeleteYOU so made me smile sweet Cathy about driving 57 miles for one sign. You brought back such memories for me with that sign. I remember as a young kid drinking this and oh so good. So much better than Coke and such a sweet memory.
ReplyDeleteI love how you just get in your car with your camera and maybe someone with you or not and set out for an adventure. Love the sign and yes I loved orangeette when I was child....A cold one in the summertime after playing outside was just the best......
ReplyDeleteWhat memories those old building must hold! And how wonderful that your dad made the trip with you, Cathy--a very special day :)
ReplyDeleteI hope your dad enjoyed the outing as much as I did! It looks like you got to that building in the nick of time. It appears that there were other buildings alongside it that are gone now, and I suspect this one may follow before long. It looks lonely standing there all by itself. I like grape soda, though I seldom drink soda of any kind. I'm not sure I've ever had a Grapette, but now I'll be keeping an eye out for it.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the building! I would have been in heaven. My dad grew up in Camden for a while, I must ask him if he remembers Grapette. Sounds like the perfect outing for your dad.
ReplyDeleteGhost signs are so cool. This one was no exception. Great old building. I don't like Grape or Orange soda though.
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