Old Barn Advertisements

As we travel through the countryside we can still see a few old wooden barns whose warped and rain stained boards are clothed in posters and painted signs. Most of these old buildings carry a message from the past. There are a few barns with the ends or sides with the white and yellow lettering on a black background remaining which advertise—Mail Pouch Tobacco. They have been landmarks over the years. However, it seems that they will soon disappear.

Sometime ago a farmer called me stating he was instructed to remove a sign from his barn and failure to do so would result not only in a fine but that the sign part would be repainted or removed. He explained that his barn is located some distance from the main highway and this barn with the painted sign has been a landmark for years. This man was very much agitated over this notice.

Apparently the notice this farmer received is the result of the Highway Beautification Act of 1965. This legislation affects all Interstate highways and forbids any advertisements to exist within 600 feet of a highway maintained with federal funds. Therefore, the fate of these old barns is sealed.

Years ago the sides of barns, sheds, blacksmith shop doors and fronts of country stores were plastered with large lettering and colorful signs announcing the coming of a circus, a wild west or perhaps a medicine show. They were the favorite spots for all posters. Large billboards along the country roads were unknown. Usually, for the privilege of posting these signs, the owner would receive several free passes.

One of the first to blaze the countryside with posters in the USA was P.T. Barnum in the 1840's. His animals and freaks were well advertised in the most colorful designs.

About 1860, patent medicines were seen advertised on old buildings. Later tobacco, not only chewing, but cigars became quite popular. If a tin roof of a barn was in a favorable position, a sign or advertisement would appear here so as to catch the traveler's eye.

In 1907, Scribers magazine appealed to farmers not to sell or rent space on their buildings to outdoor advertisers and many farmers followed this suggestion.

The payment farmers received for their barn or building space was insignificant. Money was rarely exchanged. However, many times in exchange, they would receive a free coat of paint on the remaining sides or roof.

Those in the advertising game indicate the automobile was once the cause for the beginning of the barn billboards and the automobile is now the reason for their disappearance. In the days of the model 'T', one could see posters not only of tobacco, but of hair tonics and insurance agents or companies. Later hotels began using large billboards. Today's high speed highways do not permit reading the signs for personal safety.

Most of the signs erected in the past several decades have been illuminated with electric lights. Most of the signs, and there are many along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, particularly on the western section to the Ohio line, still advertise restaurants and motels attempting to sell their wares to the traveler. Apparently the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 has not affected these signs. There are dozens erected within the 600 foot distance of the highway.

Personally, I'd hate to see these old barns lose their identity, as they have been landmarks for generations.