Ghost Signs: 6 Facts

Ghost signs are signs that are painted on the outside walls of buildings. They are called “ghost signs” because they fade away. In the 21st century, you are more likely to see a faded, barely readable sign than one in good condition.

     1. Ghost signs are also called “fading ads” or “brick ads.”

I thought they were called “signs painted on walls” until I started researching this topic.

     2. Some communities take pride in restoring ghost signs from bygone eras.

A quick search for “restored ghost signs” shows that Mooresville, NC; Yakima, WA; Birmingham, AL; and other cities have artists restoring fading ghost signs, particularly in historic districts.

     3. Restoring ghost signs is controversial.

That same search shows that some people prefer to leave the ghost signs to fade naturally and eventually disappear. For them, restoring this part of history goes against the very nature of these types of signs. For others, the signs are interesting, but a part of the past that should stay in the past.

     4. The history of ghost signs is uncertain.

The history of signs seems like a very specific interest. Once that is narrowed to a particular type of sign, it’s even more of a niche. I had little success finding history about ghost signs on the open web. The consensus seems to be that these types of signs began in the mid 1800s and continued through the mid 1900s and they were commonly painted with oil-based paints. Beyond that, I suspect one would need to contact a university or subject-specific researcher to learn more

     5. People who painted ghost signs were called “walldogs.”

I didn’t find an open-web source for the etymology of this word. My guess is that it comes from the same lingual convention that made “seadog” a term for a sailor. There are other theories online. You’ll have to decide for yourself if they are convincing.

     6. Walldogs were trained artists.

People who painted ghost signs were trained specifically in that art. They used paint brushes and hand lettered and painted the signs. While researching this topic online, I saw some sites referring to people who fix old ghost signs as “muralists.” That makes sense to me. Ghost signs and outdoor murals are both painted works on the outside walls of buildings.

Next time you see a ghost sign, you’ll know what to call it and maybe appreciate the artist's work it represents. Do you think these signs should be restored or left to fade naturally?