there’s a group of people restoring a 19th century water powered mill that exists near where I live (north-central Indiana) – the process started in Jan, and a lot has been done – public interest has been/is high, and now that the structure has been stabilized and the initial round of crisis management over with, I’ve been assigned the job of producing a sign to hang within the structure, signed by the ‘friends of the Stockdale Mill’ – we are setting up at the yearly local festival, and for $10 anyone will get a pin and get to sign the board that will be hung for posterity – I’m suppose to plan for 500 signatures and make it expandable – first thought is a breadboarded poplar plank (1″X16″X6′ or so)-(this would be in keeping with nature of the structure)with another plank in reserve if the first fills up – naked wood signed with a carpenters pencil, then coated with a varnish of some sort – I’ve been flipping thru some books that contain pictures of vintage signs, and thinking about getting a little fancier – maybe the title sign in the outline of the mill, with the signature board(s) hung below –
I here-by open the floor to suggestions – pencil on naked wood OK? – any clever ideas on the nature of the sign? ect. – thanks, DOUD
here’s a picture of the structure taken last spring, during some of the work –
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David,
Congratulations on the restoration, it'll be a nice addtion to the area. Is it near the Buckley Homestead in Lowell?
I would think the appeal of the sign would be important to generating revenue. Therefore you'd be advised to have a committee...lol..protect your vitals first ...lol. Will the sign be sheltered?
I'm no good at this design/marketing stuff but let me throw out a thought. How bout a wagon wheel design that would have a fixed center..with the message...and you could add sections (trapezoid shaped kinda) that would be T&G together...forming a larger and larger circle of "Friends" and that could be turned. Crazy Huh?
Looking forward to stopping by on my way out to see my daughter in W. Lafayette. Good luck
Thanks, BG - the mill is on eel river near Roann - sw of ft wayne 50 miles or so(7 miles north of US 24) - we're going to hang the sign inside - did a lot of it tonight - when we were cutting poplar for use in restoration, I had one 4' hunk of log left that contained a small crook, cut it up into 9 - 16"X40" boards that have been drying since march - I thicknessed them tonight, squared adn ripped - then dressed with a panel plane - a 1"X5" space gives 105 signatures per board - we'll see how many 'friends' ante up and then assemble the boards into a unit of some sort - I'm hoping I have to dig into the stacks and find some more board -
I've got a soph at Purdue - I assume that's where your daughter is schooling - we'll be on campus on the 14th for 'parents weekend' - DOUD
"Go Boilers"
Great school, two of mine (son&daug) graduated from there, my daug teaches grammer school in the area. She became a Mrs. this past July....sigh. This past Sunday I dropped off our last (daug) at UMASS.
It sounds like you have a good plan, hopefully not enough stock! I've driven through the area but not too familiar. With any luck we'll be out there many times in the future (grandchildren?). Good Luck
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