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Saturday, January 26, 2008

Famous Barn Sign Comes To Lawrence County
 
Since 1935, they have stood as genuine highway Americana, their bold white-on-black signs compelling both snowbirds and Sunday drivers to a spot near Chattanooga, Tennessee, where they could “See Rock City.”

Rock City’s well known barn advertising campaign, “See Rock City,” is set to make a new appearance in Ethridge.
Mike Risner contacted Rock City to request the nostalgic advertising for the barn-style structure at Emmanuel’s Stop. Risner said, “I called Rock City because every “SEE ROCK CITY” sign along the roads takes me back to treasured memories of vacations, scenic trips and precious times with the family. These signs are present reminders that those wonderful times are still possible……just down the road. They make you want to load up the kids and loved ones and say “let’s go see Rock City.”

Emmanuel’s Stop serves as the local Greyhound bus station in the heart of Ethridge’s Amish community. Risner spends much of his time out of the country in Iraq as a contract employee with the U.S. government. When back at home in Ethridge, he spends time refurbishing Emmanuel’s Stop with antiques, iconic advertising and the hopes to soon have a working soda fountain – a tribute to America’s past and a haven within Ethridge for the community to gather.

In 1935, Rock City began its world famous barn advertising campaign. At one time there were almost 900 barns in the Midwest and Southeast that read “SEE ROCK CITY.” Due to the Highway Beautification Act, which called for strict regulations on roadside signage, the number of barns has been reduced dramatically. In addition to this Ethridge location, there are now 80 barns maintained by Rock City’s sign crew.

Painting is slated to take place before February 1st with the exact date to be determined by weather conditions.

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