1928 Signs of Better Days Downtown

by Jose Cazares

1928 was a busy year for Electric street signs. Two new electric signs, one on Levee street and one on Washington lighted up the city streets of Brownsville's skyline. 

The Hotel El Jardin sign costed about $1,500. It was about thirty feet high and fifteen feet wide and had letters almost three feet high. It was was placed on the Southeast corner of the hotel, beginning at about the fifth story and extended to the top. M. Reich of San Antonio, who designed the huge "Solid Light" glower, was in charge of its erection. The letters were made of "Reich-Light" glass, a specially patented glass which admits of greater illumination and reflection than any glass known at that time.

The Capitol theatre also placed its sign in 1928.  (Editor's note:   Capitol Theater sign of 1928 had nation's Capitol building as icon on top.  The new sign may have replaced original after 1933 hurricane or 1938 when Capitol was completely upgraded.)

 1938 Brownsville Herald ad page

Another of Mr Reich's signs was the Cameron Hotel sign on Washington street.

In 1928, The Missouri Pacific Lines constructed the "International Bridge" ornamental sign at the entrance to the bridge road leading to the International bridge. Train schedules and general information was posted on this sign, it is said and it was illuminated at night.  (cropped section of 1942 Arthur Rothstein photo colorized by Javier R. Garcia)