The story behind Massachusetts' iconic town signs
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- If you’ve ever gone in or out of a Massachusetts town, you’ve likely encountered one of those distinct “Entering” town placards. For some, they’re just another road sign, but for others they’re much more than that. You can get one as a fridge magnet or on a shot glass. Heck, there are even a few Flickr pages dedicated to them. Their curious shape is a mystery to some, but for one resident of Littleton, they’ve always looked like something very specific: An open book. In this episode, we dig into the story of these minor municipal icons in Massachusetts to learn how they came to be, and whether they - in fact - should be considered a part of the commonwealth’s long literary tradition.
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Great deep dive! I love that the city signage is ubiquitous across the state and never thought about it being book-shaped. Certainly a testament to the AASHO that their sign designs from 1935 have stood the test of time!
As someone originally from The Cape, I remember these signs as a kid, they're unique to Massachusetts and very cool. I never realized the history on these.
This is one of my favorite things in Massachusetts. It’s simple, unique and it gives the roads some character. Most states just have a boring small green sign at town borders.
Yes, it makes all the towns seem important and distinguished, as if each has its own unique character (which is kinda true!)
Fascinating ❤
very interesting Edgar keep up the great work!
You mean other states have other shapes? I've honestly never noticed that.
Many, if not most, of those beautiful signs have been replaced by dull rectangular signs. I really miss the old signs.
In Massachusetts? Definitely not true. Only place they don’t have these is on the highways, like I-95
@@wk3004 Not so. My own home town lost those signs long ago. There is a sign for Worcester on the east-bound side of I-290. But there are very few of the beautiful signs left that I've seen in my travels.
@@jimtrue1465 You still on the “Entering X town” signs? Every town I frequent has a sign of that design on almost every road that’s not an interstate highway. The only exception I can think of is that highway-like part of Route 6 on the mid-Cape. I don’t often go much farther west than Worcester though. It must be mostly your area. Definitely not the North Shore, where many of them could use replacement to be honest
Does anybody know when and why Massachusetts switched from using the iconic green hexagonal state route directional / town mileage signs to the current boring rectangular shape?
Very important to note that the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices must be followed nationwide. Not only for the signs placed but for engineering studies that back them up. Many motorists are taken advantage of by towns and police departments that don't follow these codes.
I think the stop sign reminds me of a spider web, eight legs, eight sides. You're just a busy bee gliding along and all of a sudden.. STOP!
they look like an open book
"Ledger"
What on earth is that racket in rhe background
It's the Good Book.
The Word of God.
out to scape one of the must awful type of Caucasians. so that's the awnser lost to history .............well that's 3 minutes I'm not getting back.