The vintage neon sign that once marked the location of American Legion Grant Hodge Post 17 in downtown Centralia has been replaced with a new LED sign after marking the post’s location for around three-quarters of a century.
Though its exact installation date is unknown, Grant Hodge Post 17 Commander Bob Clark believes the neon sign was installed sometime after the building was purchased from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) in 1948.
Clark spoke with The Chronicle shortly after the new LED sign was installed on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
While the old neon sign had a vintage look, 70-plus years of exposure to the elements had taken its toll — with the sign’s paint sun-bleached and chipping away, along with rust rife in multiple areas on it.
“This initiative commenced over four years ago during an assessment of our aging neon display, which concluded that replacement was the most fiscally responsible course of action,” Clark said.
Being a decades-old neon sign, new light bulbs had to be custom ordered out-of-state, and even with the new bulbs installed, the rust combined with the sign’s aged electrical system was giving them a lot of problems.
It would frequently not light up at all.
“Through the generous contributions of our members and the acquisition of a repurposed sign from (American Legion) Raymond Post 150, we have successfully completed this transition,” Clark added.
Raymond Post 150 no longer needed the sign after it moved to a new headquarters building following the City of Raymond’s condemnation of its old building. Clark drove to get the sign to repurpose it for Grant Hodge Post 17.
The new LED sign stands 7 feet tall and stretches 6-and-a-half feet wide. It not only marks the location of Grant Hodge Post 17, but also Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Chief Warrant Officer Robert M. Dowling Post 2200, which shares the old IOOF hall with Grant Hodge Post 17 as its headquarters.
“Our objective is to increase public awareness regarding events hosted by the American Legion and the VFW, including our weekly bingo nights and community dinners,” Clark said. “Furthermore, in accordance with updated policies from the National American Legion Convention in Kentucky, membership eligibility has been expanded to include veterans and any of their relatives. The American Legion and the VFW look forward to welcoming more community members to our facility as we continue our dedicated service to veterans, their families, our community and our nation.”
He also said the new sign, being much brighter and larger, will hopefully attract more attention, as Clark has frequently been told by locals that they had no idea the post was located on West Main Street.
As for the new LED sign’s installation and refurbishment, it was handled by Esco Pacific Signs of Chehalis, which redid the sign’s markings, incorporated new LED lighting into the frame and refinished it. Additionally, Esco Pacific Signs oversaw its installation and mounting design, which was also approved by the Centralia Downtown Association, Clark said.
Clark thanked Esco Pacific Signs for their work on getting the sign ready and installed.
For lovers of vintage signs sad about the loss of the old neon, Clark is planning on preserving the “Legion” section of the sign, along with refurbishing the electrical system and making repairs where needed.
Once those repairs have been completed, the “Legion” sign will be installed inside the Grant Hodge Post 17 hall on the second floor of the building, where they can keep it lit and not have to worry about further exposure to the elements damaging it.
Unfortunately, the “Post 17” section of the sign is rusted beyond the point of being salvageable, Clark said.
American Legion Grant Hodge Post 17 and VFW Chief Warrant Officer Robert M. Dowling Post 2200 are both located at 111 W. Main St. in downtown Centralia, in between Willie’s Sport Shop and the Dynasty Tattoo parlor.
To learn more about Grant Hodge Post 17, visit its website at https://granthodgepost17.org/ or follow it on Facebook for event announcements at https://www.facebook.com/granthodgepost17.
