By giving concrete details about daily life in a former era, historic signs allow the past to speak to the present in ways that buildings by themselves do not. And multiple surviving historic signs on the same building can indicate several periods in its history or use. In this respect, signs are like archeological layers that reveal different periods of human occupancy and use.

Scrivner's Grocery & Market
Located at 152 W. Mountain Ave.
(Steak-Out Saloon)

• The owners had planned to paint their new sign over it an cover it up, but the Fort Collins Historical Society and several pioneer citizens convinced them to save it as a "ghost sign" of the past history of the building.

• The building was built circa 1907 as the A.L. Wheeler Laundry.

• It was a grocery store in 1917, the American Theatre in 1922, and Scrivner's Grocery located there in 1941.

Coca-Cola
Located on the east wall of the J.L. Hohnstein Block, 220 E. Mountain Ave.
(CooperSmith's Pub & Brewing Co.)

• This sign was for the "new, 12 oz, king-sized" bottle.

• It was the former location of Angell's Delicatessen.

• It was painted by Don Brown in 1958.

• The sign is a "privilege" sign; a company pays for a business' sign for the privilege of putting up another sign advertising its product. The Coca-Cola company paid Brown to do the "Angell's Delicatessen and Party Service" sign that stretches across the top of its own soft drink sign promoting the king-sized 12-ounce bottle, which just hit the market.

• The cost then of painting was 50-60 cents per square foot, about $400 for the 3- to 5-day project.

• This may easily be the most popular sign in Fort Collins, in part because it is in a very visible location on E. Mountain Ave., and also because it is an advertising product that exists today.

More ghost signs to look for:

• Champion Spark Plugs

• Colorado Bakery & Grocery

• The Fair Store

• Owl Cigar

• Paramount Launders & Cleaners

• Pepsi-Cola sign