01/23/2018
An update of the creation of the downtown Martinsville sign.
Joanne Stuttgen has solved the nagging mystery of the origin of the historic, formerly neon sign on top of the Union Block building. Rolling through microfilmed issues of The Daily Reporter, she at last found an article about the debut of the sign on the front page of the December 8, 1937, paper. It is reprinted here. Check the comments for additional information.
NEW NEON SIGN
IS ILLUMINTAED
TUESDAY NIGHT
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LIGHTING TESTED IN ELECTRICAL
DISPLAY ON TOP OF STIER-
WALT BUILDING
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BOOSTS CITY AS
HEALTH CENTER
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Flashes Message “Martinsville, City of
Mineral Water”—Local Group
Gives Funds
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The new electric sign atop the
Stierwalt building on the northwest
corner of the public square, advertis-
ing Martinsville as “The City of Min-
eral Water,” has been completed and
was tested Tuesday night for the first
time.
In red and blue neon, the sign flashes
Its message to all person traveling
along Main Street and is clearly visible
from all parts of the downtown district.
The sign was erected by Roy Tierce
and measures 21 feet by 10 feet. The
metal lettering was done by. W. R.
Davis, local tinner. Funds for the sign
were contributed by sanitariums and
local merchants, who felt this was a
good method of informing travelers of
Martinsville’s health-giving mineral
water.
The sign will be lighted each eve-
ning and will burn until about mid-
night. Current for operation of the
sign will be furnished without cost by
the city light plant.
Those who contributed for the pur-
chase and er****on of the sign were
the Home Lawn Sanitarium, Martins-
ville Sanitarium, Whiting Sanitarium,
Colonial Mineral Springs, New High-
land Sanitarium, Cohn-Barnard Sani-
tarium, Robert Sisson, James Zapapas,
Martinsville Auto Company, Sam Bar-
skin, R. E. Phelps, J. C. Penney store,
R. M. Bailey, Siler Pharmacy, Artesian
Cleaners, Hendrickson & Co., A. O.
Carter, Collier Brothers, Cure & Son,
National Bank of Martinsville, Riley
cafe, Artesian laundry, Otis Cooksey,
Northern Indiana Power Co., and Ben-
zol Cleaners.
The Daily Reporter, Dec. 8, 1937, p. 1