Preservation of Old Signs

There are many old signs to be found in our modern world, and in many places people are now actively trying to preserve these through historic sign ordinances.  The National Park Service, in fact, has a publication available to guide sign preservation: 

http://www.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/brief25.htm

 What is really unfortunate, however, is that much of the time preservation interest is limited to certain styles or time periods that are considered tasteful or are old enough to be "legitimate".  Many signs from the twentieth century do not fall into this category and are left to decay and disappear.  I have taken an interest lately in trying to record some of these old signs.  Most are along decaying corridors in southern towns, that I see while driving.  Unfortunately, the rural south has not yet caught on to the idea that these signs are important reminders of an era, and that they add tremendous character and value to the historic landscape.  I don't know why this is, but many southerners feel that the only historic layer that has any value is that period between when the colonists arrived and somewhere around 1925.  The Bungalow is the last architectural style to achieve any real appreciation in this part of the world.  Mid-century modernism and later styles are still regarded as ugly and brash here.  But I digress, here are the pictures...