Come with us now to, a time when
“Men were men, roads were roads, and signs were signs!”
All photographs by Michael Summa; Commentary by Comrade Mr Yamamoto and Michael Summa.
Anything written by me reflects MY opinion only.
If you don't like it, you can go get stuffed.
Or E-mail a complaint. I need a laugh.
New England Sine Chowda!
.focus())
|
1975-US 7 at the Massachussets State line northbound.
Note the cast “STATE HIGHWAY BEGINS” sine. Here is a 2002 view of the same area. |
.focus())
|
1975-Not really an advance left for MASS 7A-You're ON MASS 7A. |
.focus())
|
1970-Entrance sign for the MassPike with politically incorrect arrow thru the hat.
Contol City signage is vague. “ALL POINTS”? Boston? Amherst? Walla Walla? Pluto? Can’t tell from this sine... |
.focus())
|
The “Now” Generation back “Then”!
Michael Summa sez: 1976-CT 8 north becomes MASS 8 here. At least at this location, rather than one welcome sign, there were a few like this with a different message. I only got this shot (probably because it took us about 5 minutes to stop laughing after this polaroid was developed). Yes, that IS Michael Summa his very own self. You saw it here first. |
.focus())
|
1976-MASS Welcome sine sure to cause certain elements of the population to
snarl and assume the sacred fœtal position, as it features the name of Presidential Candidate who was Willie Hortonized by the original Crayfish Cowboy. They want yr GUNS too-Note the next sine. Thank goodness we’re so much safer NOW. |
.focus())
|
1976-Which you SHOULD know, judging by this sine.
The lady in the shot was posing for someone else. I would have been digging her anyway. Can you say “Zoom Lens”? About the most patriotic thing you’ll see on this site. 
|
.focus())
|
1976-The east end of the eastern IH 84 at Sturbridge.
No END sines, sorry, this is MASS. This shot is just past the toll plaza. |
.focus())
|
1976-Contemporary MASSPIKE reassurance signage.
I found a similar sine in 2002. |
.focus())
|
US 20 meets the IH 84 at J3 in Sturbridge. This is just south of the IH 84-MASSPIKE junction.
This predates the current west under-east over US 20 configuration. The underpass is two-way. Note the text headroom sine. Also for petrol brand fans-you can see an ARCO station. |
.focus())
|
A variety of CURVE/JUNCTION warning sines from 1982.
I dunno, I think the 4th one in the series looks ill. Fan mail from Emi Melissa Briet pegs the location of the “T” junction in the third snap: This is on Stott's Crossing, a small state-owned connector road between MA-6A (Shore Road) and US-6 in North Truro, MA. |
.focus())
|
|
.focus())
|
|
.focus())
|
|
.focus())
|
|
.focus())
|
1982-50's vintage raised button copy STOP sine.
Repainted(poorly), as you can see. |
.focus())
|
SPEED LIMIT sine with MASS font: Michael Summa sez:
In the mid/late 1950s this was the highest speed you would have seen posted on MASS. highways. At that time, it was the lowest maximum speed in the U.S.A. In a lot of cases it's STILL the default country speed limit in 2k5! |
.focus())
|
A large wooden BUS TURN sine from 1982.
Gotta love that “U” arrow. |
.focus())
|
Normal cardinal direction plate atop a dysfunctional state marker-1982.
The marker is wooden. |
.focus())
|
1982-The old version of the state law for school bus stops sign. |
.focus())
|
1976-Found on a town road.
This embossed CURVE sine just OOOZES character. Dig the oval reflecting buttons! |
.focus())
|
Curve with a junction, Two Bits!
Found on US 7-a bit more standard. |
.focus())
|
1980-Dysfuctional wood marker with 2nd generation MASSPIKE marker.
Some arrows might be nice.
|
.focus())
|
1980-Dysfunctional guide signage for MA 57 on-slip southwest of Springfield.
This is the west-off/east-on half cloverleaf at MASS 159. Shoulda just done it all the way: Like this! |
.focus())
|
1980-“ROTARY” directional sine.
a Common site in MASS. |
.focus())
|
1982-Honking Huge Series “E” Modified “6”.
Well at least it’s a FHWA font.... |
.focus())
|
1982-Maintaining a High Standard of Nonstandardness on MA 6A in lower Cape Cod:
An ordinary CURVE sine with flashing beacons WOULD NOT DO; So ya get a flashing red neon arrow. |
.focus())
|
1982-Honking Huge Series “E” Modified “5” this time. |
.focus())
|
1977-MILE/EXIT signage on the IH 93 north near Lawrence.
This didn't last too long. This was also done in Colorado. The junction numbers(and mileage) have since changed. JN 20=JN 46; JNS 21-22=JNS 47-48, now. |
.focus())
|
1977-I don’t think there are enough sines in this snap. |
.focus())
|
1970-JN 5 northbound on the IH 95 SW of Providence.
Looks a bit like older MO signage. |
.focus())
|
1970-Davit lights on the IH 95;
and a State Name RI IH 95 sine NOT in a bipping white square! |
.focus())
|
A junction on US 6 somewhere west of Providence-1970.
Further ID of this junction from Kate, somewhere in New England:
|
.focus())
|
1982 westbound on US 6/RI 101. |
.focus())
|
The IH 95 north, entering Maine-1976.
Again with juction no/mileage plates in a font Michael Summa identifies as “LeHay”. |
.focus())
|
1976-Aieeeeee! Turn back! It's Ketchup/Commieland!
They’ll cop our GUNS and our Jelly Do-Nuts! |
.focus())
|
Along US 1 north , this was the way MAINE county & town line signage once looked. |
.focus())
|
1976-The first sine southbound on the IH 95 South of the Border with
Sandy McTire land
It’s actually westbound and WEST, but close enough, then, eh? |
.focus())
|
Boring olde STATE o’MAINE 52 marker. ZZZZZZZZZ. |
.focus())
|
1980-Reassurance shield and flashing beacon from the NH 10/25 junction at Piermont.
Looks bloody cold, don’t it? |
.focus())
|
|
.focus())
|
1977-UN World Government ready NH welcome sine on the IH 93 northbound. |
.focus())
|
White on White NH Highway sine and a diamond TURN arrow.
Note the Yankee Trail sine. |
.focus())
|
1980-Approaching White River junction on the IH 91 Southbound.
Where's the border on the IH 89 sine? And the ones on the JN plate are a bit off, too. VDOT musta been smokin’ Earth Shoes or something.
|
.focus())
|
1980-IH 93 Northbound appproaching the IH 89.
How many hazard sines can we bung on here? And dig that crazy loop arrow, daddy-o. It's loopy ain’t it? |
.focus())
|
Michael Summa sez:
The Vermont version of a state speed limit/welcome sign in 1980. At all the state line crossings I passed I never saw an official “welcome” sign. Only on the Interstates. I do remember regular speed limit signs having a small “STATE OF VERMONT” at the bottom in the late 60’s. |
.focus())
|
Michael Summa sez:
I couldn't go anywhere in Vermont without seeing these. Usually they were posted like this facing opposite a stop sign on the other side of the road. By the time I got this shot in 1982, many of the embossed had been replaced by flat, screened ones. Which exist in abundance off every main road. Note the VT reference marker, |
.focus())
|
1977-Vermont's version of DO NOT PASS.
Nowadays posted in a diamond in No overtaking zones. Like every 10 feet. |
.focus())
|
1980-Michael Summa sez:
This WAS US 5 so what was the TO sign doing there? And why under the route sign? Does anyone know? DOES ANY ONE CARE? (OK, I'll stop ranting now). Can say as I blame him. New England has some seriously weird signage habits. I think they smoke too many Earth Shoes. |
.focus())
|
Alternate VT State line signage. |
.focus())
|
Late 90’s snap taken by Michael Summa's brother.
Possibly in Barre, VT. |
.focus())
|
Late 90’s snap taken by Michael Summa's brother.
Looking north out of the “EXIT 1” Tourist Information Center at the VT-NY State line. Another view of this junction, STOLEN from State Ends dot com |
.focus())
|
Late 90’s snap taken by Michael Summa's brother.
VT 100 meets VT 107 between Pittsfield and Stockbridge. What is this? MASS?
The western END of VT 107; which is covered in excruciating detail on Vermont ENDS. We are talking Serious coverage here. |
OI! Dig on the
Whole Series!!
It’s SO Top Ho and Spiffing! It's Summariffic!
.focus()){kind=link}
.focus()){kind=link}
.focus()){kind=link}
.focus()){kind=link}
.focus()){kind=link}