Growing up in and around Atlanta, I have always known of Atlanta as being the home of Coca-Cola. A doctor named John Pemberton developed the soft drink in a three legged brass kettle in his back yard. An Atlanta pharmacist and businessman, Asa Candler bought the formula from John Pemberton for $2300.
What I did not know was that Cartersville, Georgia has historical significance in the Coca-Cola story as well. The world’s first outdoor Coca-Cola advertisement painted on a brick wall is at 2 W. Main Street in Cartersville. The Young Brothers Pharmacy has operated at this location for 120 years.
In 1894, a syrup salesman named James Couden painted the sign on the building’s east wall. Soon afterward, this method of advertising became commonplace. In 1989, 25 layers of paint were removed to reveal the original sign. Though faded, the original sign was visible because back then paint was lead based and soaked into the brick.
In 1994, the sign was repainted to look new. When he painted the wall of a building, I doubt James Couden had any idea his sign would be the start of a whole new way of advertising, much less create history. Will your sign be historical? We cannot predict the future, but let Signs & More, Inc. (770-383-8808) make your sign memorable.
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