There are several Uneeda Biscuit “ghost signs” in the Capital District. Ghost signs are vintage brickface advertisements that have survived for decades – even after the products they sold were no longer manufactured. They’re also a great photography subject. You never know when you’ll find one – and when you do, you should photograph it immediately, because tomorrow the building could get torn down or repainted or whatnot.
Apparently the Capital District was a hotbed of Uneeda Biscuit advertising; I’ve found Uneeda ads in Albany, in Troy, in Schenectady and in Cohoes. Last year, a building that housed two Schenectady Uneeda Biscuit adverts was torn down.
Another Uneeda Biscuit ad in Schenectady, in addition, only has a few weeks left to exist before it, too, meets the wrecking ball.
Background.
Just near the Amtrak station, and visible from State Street, is a Uneeda Biscuit brickface advert. This ad, which also contains advertisements for the Boston One Price Clothing Store and Sherry’s “The Star” restaurant, is over 100 years old. I photographed it three years ago as part of my “Ghost Signs of the Capital District” photo project, and I understand that the original ad was covered up by an adjacent building; the ad only saw the light of day when the building in front of it burned down. That’s why there’s still some fire damage to the advert.
Last Wednesday, I happened to notice that the building containing this vintage advert was in the middle of construction and renovation. I guess they’re putting in a Mexican Radio restaurant or something.
No, not that Mexican Radio… but I digress.
I motioned to one of the workers at the construction site. “Hey,” I said. “Do you know if they’re going to keep that old advertisement on the side of the building?”
“The painted ad?” he replied.
“Yeah.”
“That one?” he pointed.
“Yeah.”
“No.”
“No?”
“No.”
“How long before it goes?”
“Maybe a couple of weeks.”
Urgh.
In case you’re wondering… the brickad actually has some scaffolding in front of it, the bricked-up window frames are already exposed, and, for all intents and purposes, the wall could come down any day.
You know what? I’m sad that this little brickad is about to die. Partially because not only does this decrease the number of Uneeda Biscuit signs in the area, it also eliminates the advertisements for Seeley’s “The Star” hotel and the Boston One Price Clothing Store, both of whom were thriving businesses in the Electric City over a century ago.
But what can you do? It’s not like either business is returning to the Capital District, and there isn’t a single grocery store in New York that still sells Uneeda Biscuits. Okay, maybe they sell them if you ask for “saltine crackers…”
So what do you do now?
Beats me. I guess if you want to get a picture of the ghost sign at some point…
You’d better hurry. And don’t expect the construction crew to move the scaffolding just to accommodate you.
Chuck The Writer 
Very interesting, because I saw a Uneeda Biscuit ghost sign just yesterday from the bridge on Henry Johnson Boulevard looking east. It’s so worn that it’s almost undiscernable. I’m glad they are at least being preserved in photographs.
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Bill W: Do you mean the one that’s in the upper left corner of this photo?
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That looks like the one. I was driving North on H.J. Blvd. and only got a chance to glance at it, but I did recognize the “Uneeda Biscuit”.
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I had no idea Uneeda Biscuit was so popular locally. I don’t think I liked them that much nor did my mom because I don’t remember boxes of them in the house growing up if I do remember the commercials. Once upon a time we had CLEVER commercials e.g. the old Bayer Aspirin, “Mother please, I’d rather do it myself!” etc.
I appreciate your cataloging our heritage, Chuck. There have been many discussions on Facebook often spurred by Historic Albany, of our wanton destruction of historic properties because the City of Albany in its infinite wisdom (?) decreed them to be unsafe, hazardous, etc. We might as well return to the era of Rocky’s Wrecking Ball, destroying everything including the John V. L. Pruyn branch of Albany Public Library, the last example of Dutch architecture now the parking lot adjacent to Capital Rep. We don’t care about our history or how rich in history the area is. Troy & Schenectady seem to be following in the same path. Raze it first, ask questions later. So, again, thanks, Chuck for documenting all of this. (If I have no idea what youre talking about when you get into technical specs of your cameras! I took tons of slides years ago w/a basic Kodak Instamatic or some such, point, shoot, get developed, bore family approach!
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The best way to replicate the singer’s voice is to pinch your nose between your middle finger and either of the adjacent digits.
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Chuck,
I was going south on Lark yesterday and at the intersection of Spruce saw a ghost sign on the building on the right. I have forgotten now what the ad was for, but I had never seen it before.
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Good morning, Chuck!
I was very surprised to happen upon your column this morning and have some good news for you!
As is often the case with a large group working on a construction site, not everyone is privy to details of design, etc. The scaffolding you photographed is actually up to SAVE the building!
You are correct, the fire many years ago caused extensive damage to the brick wall. As a result the building was slated for the wrecking ball by a potential developer as the cost of repair is (and remains) significant.
As we were looking for a site to build Mexican Radio’s Schenectady location, we heard about the potential demolition of that building and decided to step in to save it – all because Mark and I LOVE those ghost signs!!!
The reason the bricked up window frames you photographed are exposed is because we are putting windows back in! We will also be putting a door back in on the ground level to accommodate entry into the building for private parties and access indoors when the summer garden dining is up and running.
Not only that, we are researching historically accurate means of possibly saving those signs from further deterioration. Jury’s still out on that right now but hope springs eternal!
So, Chuck, know that your Uneeda Biscuit ghost sign (et al) is safe and sound as a cherished part of Mexican Radio Schenectady.
And if anyone wants to take photos, you are more than welcome, but please stop into the first floor work site to pick up your hard hat!
Look forward to seeing everyone very soon!
Lori Selden
CEO
Mexican Radio Restaurant Group
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Chuck, I do hope that you will do a follow-up story about the great people at Mexican Radio and their work to try to save the ghost signs after this one as it appears that you wrote your story a little prematurely – before you spoke to the folks at Mexican Radio.
As someone who grew up in Schenectady, lives in Columbia County and is a devoted fan of Mexican Radio in Hudson as well as the one in NYC, I can assure you that Schenectady will only benefit from their entry into the community. When I read your line “I guess they’re putting in a Mexican Radio restaurant or something” I cringed. You made it sound so inconsequential and worse, like they were folks who did not care. That could not be further from the truth.
Here in Columbia County their chefs are involved in working with kids in the local schools to learn about growing local food. They take part in our County Fair (winning best savory cupcake this year). They support local fundraising programs. They give back to their community.
So maybe that might be a good topic for a later article. The benefits that can come to a community when people who care open a business there. That will maybe help educate you and your readers about Mexican Radio because any article with that as its basis will have to look at those folks.
And you won’t have to guess what that Mexican Radio restaurant “or something” is.
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