This neon sign greets you on the Burnside Bridge as you cross the river into downtown and old town Portland. I had a hard time finding complete information on this sign as it's been changed several times- additions & deletions made over the years. The Made in Oregon sign was built in 1927 advertising White Satin Sugar (with the lettering "White Satin").
In 1959, it became the White Stag sign in 1959 with a change in lettering and the addition of a leaping deer and the word "sportswear". Then in 1989, the White Stag company moved to California. Huh, my mother had some White Stag sportswear. I remember it being sporty, stylish.
The sign, being one of Portland's best-loved landmarks, was in jeopardy after White Stag left Portland until Old Town philanthropist Bill Naito stepped up to pay the sign's electric bills.
Then with another lettering change in the 1970s for the Made in Oregon company, the sign was re-made again to say "Made in Oregon". The sign uses neon and incandescent light and is 48' tall by 46' wide. The stag's nose has been lit red (like Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer) for the Christmas holidays since 1957.
1 comment:
You're so good for providing so much info on all of these Portland landmarks - thanks!
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