On Saturday May 23, the Historical Society of Woodstock will unveil its newest exhibit, “Signs of the Times.” The exhibit, open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 pm will run through June 28.
Admission is free. In addition, the Historical Society invites the public to an opening reception for the exhibit on May 23, beginning at 3 pm. The Historical Society of Woodstock is located at 20 Comeau Drive in Woodstock, NY.
Featuring signage, posters and selected memorabilia from Woodstock’s collective past, the exhibit, through the use of signage, reflects on various chapters in Woodstock’s story. As artifacts of an earlier time, signage can offer a record of a town’s evolution over the years.
They reflect the changing services indicative of a certain period, and the varied cultural and social changes encountered over time. Even their colors, lettering and design can offer insight into a specific era.
Many of the signs in this exhibit, for example, present the types of businesses that once dotted Woodstock’s streets. The changing signs and their styles on display can also point to the decline of one era and the rise of something new.
Some signs also remain iconic in Woodstock lore — such as the S.S. Seahorse or Joyous Lake signs — reminders of gathering places and collective experiences.
Signs, such as protest signs, posted notices on telephone poles, or even campaign buttons, also mark the changing political environment within a town. They too can reflect changes in a town’s direction, issues of importance at a certain time, and even our community values.
While we may not think of the historical significance of signs in our times, they offer a visual record not only of our lives but the lives of those who have come before. In many respects, they serve as a time capsule tracing where we have been and where we might be heading.
The Historical Society of Woodstock was founded in 1929 by a group of artists, writers, academics, and local citizens. In addition to the exhibition space, which is located at the historic Eames House on Comeau Drive in the center of Woodstock, the Historical Society has an extensive archive consisting of paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, textiles, photographs, books, manuscripts, correspondence, documents, film/sound recordings, and antique tools. The archive serves as a resource for a wide range of exhibitions, public programming, and research.
Illustrations, from above, provided by Historical Society of Woodstock: Gulf Oil and A&P Signage on Mill Hill Road in Woodstock; and a 1968 Sound Out music festival poster.
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