Anybody out there know how old this public shelter sign might be? It is certainly older than the fallout shelter signs of the late-1950s/early-1960s. Is it from the Second World War? If anyone knows let me know.
The sign doesn't quite look like this. It took a bit of tweaking with photoshop elements to brighten it up.
I see the sign every morning as I walk along 116th St. It is attached to the Graham Court Apartments at 116th and Adam Clayton Powell. Graham Court was commissioned by William Waldorf Astor, and opened as Harlem's most luxurious apartment building in 1901. The architects, Clinton and Russell, later built the Apthorp Apartments on the Upper West Side. The building has had its ups and downs through the years. I've read that the actor Danny Glover has an apartment here. The building was the setting for the crack factory in the movie "New Jack City".
I'm off to Seattle for a week. If you're at the AAAS meeting look me up. While not at the conference, I plan on making a pilgrimage to Archie McPhee and a visit to the Experience Music Project. I suspect I shall be visiting the Pike Place Market every morning. I won't have a chance to post any photos, but I have a couple of entries lined up and will check in every day or two.
This sign dates back to WWII. These signs were supposed to replaced by the "fallout shelter" signs by the Army Corps of Engineers beginning in 1961. By the way, it is a great photo. I am working on a history of these signs. Any chance of getting a high res version of your photo? Attribution will be provided. Thanks, Bill
Posted by: Bill Geerhart | 10 October 2005 at 03:56 PM