Golden Valley Historical Society Offers Vintage Street Signs for Sale
When you look around a city, you can see signs everywhere. Each small street sign holds a lot of information. For most, it holds the street name, type and block. In Golden Valley’s case, you can even tell which city you’re in by glancing at its street signs.
Those signs also hold more when it comes to cultural significance. Golden Valley Historical Society is helping to preserve those pieces of history with its vintage street sign sale.
One sign in Golden Valley, located at the corner of Meadow and Sunnyridge lanes, is more than 100 years old. If you’re not looking for it, you might miss the pale wayfinding sign, marking mileage distances to Bass Lake and Rockford.
The oldest known sign in Golden Valley on Meadow Lane.
There are no other signs like it in Golden Valley anymore, but the basement of GVHS holds signs from as long ago as the 1940s.
“In our basement here, we have about 60-70 years worth of signs,” said Jim Elert, a Historical Society board member.
Elert inventories the signs as they come in from the city. He’s also a collector.
“For me, the older, the more dented, the more dirty they are, the more I like them. I have two in my own home,” he said.
Signs for Sale
Several years back, the city approached GVHS with an idea to donate its old street signs, thinking GVHS could sell them as a fundraiser. The board members eagerly took on the idea. Signs go for $25 each, regardless of condition.
“It’s an opportunity for us to facilitate other people owning a piece of Golden Valley history,” said Lin Nelson-Mayson, the GVHS president.
Just a snapshot of the many, many signs located in the Golden Valley Historical Society.
The signs vary in age, condition and design. Everyone has a different preference, Nelson-Mayson’s learned. Some people come in looking for a sign that bears their last name. Others seek the street they grew up on or live on now. Some also just are looking for an interesting word. All of those mean something to them.
“It is a nice sort of nostalgic thing, as well as a marker saying ‘This is something that was important to me,'” Nelson-Mayson said.
The board typically sells 50 signs a year, all for those different reasons. The city is also continually adding signs to its collection as it replaces signs with newer designs. Nelson-Mayson said this resale opportunity fits well into GVHS’ goal.
“Our mission is to preserve Golden Valley history. But in this way, we are also allowing people an opportunity to share in that history,” Nelson-Mayson said.
After all, a city is made up of streets that carry stories of the past, present and future.
The Golden Valley Historical Society sells signs year-round. There are still hundreds available, and neighbors can shop the selection at the Golden Valley Historical Society museum from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. every Saturday. It’s located at 6731 Golden Valley Road in the Little Church in the Valley.
Interested buyers can see the list of available signs as of December 2024 on the Historical Society’s website. Inventory changes every day. To get the best idea of the inventory, board members recommend stopping by to shop.
