Ghost Signs of NYC: Horn & Hardart Automat

Book Excerpt

Horn & Hardart Automat, 977 Eighth Avenue, 1936. Courtesy of the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, New York Public Library

Ghost signs hold the secrets of businesses and products that vanished decades ago. Clues to our jobs, schools, places of worship, cafes, and concert halls are hidden in their stories. Forgotten brands, obsolete technologies, and surprising discoveries revealed during renovations are featured in the new book, Ghost Signs 2: Clues to Uptown New York’s Past.