It wouldn’t be Halloween without ghost stories. Or better yet, ghost sign stories.
What is a ghost sign? It’s any old painted advertisement on the side of a building, usually spelling out the name of a company + a description of their goods or services.
Given Boston’s industrial history, ghost signs are everywhere. Here’s what we know about three of these signs and where to find them.
👻 Bostonia Cigars
When walking around the Rose Kennedy Greenway + Haymarket area, you’ve probably recognized this 10 cent cigar advertisement. If you haven’t yet, head to Blackstone Street to see the sign dating back to the 1880s.
Pro tip: While you’re there, keep an eye out for the sign of a hand pointing down on Marshall Street.
👻 NECCO
This one is a bit harder to notice, but there are still lingering letters from a New England Confectionery Company Factory space at Necco Court in the Seaport District.
The candy company also has a historic factory complex at 250 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge, which is now owned by Novartis.
👻 Holt & Bugbee Co.
You’ll find this sign from a locally founded hardware flooring company on 90 Canal St. in the North End. Fun fact: The business, which operated in Charlestown for 60 years, is still around in Tewskbury.
Honorable mentions go to the Quaker Oats signs in both Cambridge + the South End, and the Coca Cola logo on Colombus Avenue in the South End.
If you’re curious to learn more, check out The Backside of America . Newton local Dave Brigham regularly explores our city and documents all of the ghost signs he finds on the blog. Naturally, we’re big fans.