Sign found

[Michellets]

I was helping a friend clean out a cellar in a house that dates to the early 1800's. There was a old board that was used as a shelf in the basement, but the shelf was falling because the metal spikes that were supporting it had rusted away. When I went to remove the board and turned it over I realized it was an old sign. This is a big piece of planking that measures about ten feet by 20 inches wide. I have tried to place a date and town on it, but have had no luck in my searches. Maybe someone here can positively ID where the shop was, or who John L Ballard was, and when he lived. I have found several John L Ballards, but have yet to connect them to any specific trade such as horse shoeing (Blacksmith?) My friend that I was helping gave me the sign!!!!! What a great gift!! HH All... Michelle

 

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[creskol]

Re: Sign found in Ulster Co. NY. Need to connect name, town, date..

Probably not the case, but it is fun to entertain the thought that this was the John Ballard, a former slave and blacksmith, that Ballard Mountain was named after. That is a very neat old sign and a great gift! Thanks for posting it!

 

[Michellets]

Re: Sign found in Ulster Co. NY. Need to connect name, town, date..

The sign was found in a town where there were slave families /former slaves... I'll look more into it, but in the meantime... hopefully someone will let me know...a positive ID...thanks creskol

 

[Breezie]

Perhaps if you gave us the city and state or even the county and state where it was found, someone could ID this fellow. Very nice find, Breezie

 

[diggummup]

Perhaps if you gave us the city and state or even the county and state where it was found, someone could ID this fellow. Very nice find, Breezie

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

This is one beautiful sign Michelle! It's worth quite a lot too.
Hope you get the information you're looking for!

Cheers,
Dave

 

[savant365]

Ballard worked as a blacksmith and a Teamster and sold firewood and charcoal door to door in order to make money. He became a landowner, helped found the First AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church and became a civic leader and homesteader.

http://www.theacorn.com/news/2010-02-25/Community/After_120_years_Ballard_gets_his_due.html

 

[lennon631]

I sure do hope that sign and the Mr. Ballard that we are speaking of is one and the same! Cool find...