Ghost sign revealed at Suhn Building across from East High School (+video)

A ghost sign has been revealed at the Suhn Building at the northeast corner of Douglas and Madison, which is across from East High School.

A ghost sign is a sign that’s either fading or recently exposed that had been created in the distant past.

This partial signs reads “PHARMACY” and shows what looks like the top of a ice cream sundae.

“I’m sure there was a fountain at some point in history in there,” says Sean Brennan, who is redeveloping the property with his wife, Chantelle.

William and Antonia Suhn and their Suhn Drug Co. were the first occupants of the 1921 building. Roosevelt Drug Co. followed in 1931, and Hamker Pharmacy was there from 1948 until sometime in the 1960s, according to city directories.

Most recently, Kimzey Medical Supplies was in the building.

The Brennans own the Lahn Building next store, which they also redeveloped in the last couple of years.

As with that building, they plan to remodel Suhn’s six long-vacant apartments upstairs.

The Brennans own several properties along that stretch of East Douglas and are seeking a historic designation for the area.

“We’ve got what I think are some very exciting tenants … who would be great tenants for that block,” Sean Brennan says. “That block has just a really interesting history.”

That includes the sign, which Brennan says he was enthused to discover.

“We’d like to keep that and incorporate it in some way.”

Look for more information early in the new year when remodeling begins.

This story was originally published October 21, 2015 at 3:13 PM.