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Helping Waynesboro Find The Cook Colonnade

January 24, 2025 By jalexspringer

HISTORIC HERITAGE

There were 23,182 people considered Waynesboroites in 2024. You see, when I am not making signs or playing music out somewhere, or hanging around doing fun things with my wife Jennifer and dog Cooper, I am hand-writing the Bible. Pretty much on a daily basis I am writing about the Reubenites, or the Danites or the Gileadites, or the Perizzites, etc., but today I get to feature a story about the Waynesboroites! Waynesboro, Virginia was officially recognized as a town in 1801, and incorporated in 1834. However, the area’s history dates back to 1739. That is about the same time the early settlers began settling the area where my sign shop is located over at Arbor Hill.

www.augustasigncompany.com-waynesboro-va-colonial-wood-signs
The Old Sign on Broad Street Prior to Rehab.

LOTS OF TOURISTS

Direct visitor spending for Waynesboro reached $77.8 million last year! That is a lot of dough!! I am not exactly sure how many annual tourists it takes to spend that kind of money, but several meals, a hotel or bed and breakfast, and a tank of gas would cost at least $200-300 per visitor meaning there could be an average of 5,000 strangers in town each week looking around, trying to find things to do.

By building a set of brand new signs for a few long-time customers last fall, (Cook Realtors, Cross Stitch Station, South River Watershed Coalition, and Waynesboro Music), I hope I was able to help many of those thousands of visitors and residents alike find the cool shops located at the Hamilton-Cook Colonnade, a local specialty shopping center located at 520 West Broad Street in Waynesboro, Virginia,(established way back in 1910, when my late grandmas were age 21 and age 7).

www.augustasigncompany.com-waynesboro-va-crimora-tree-street-signs-540-943-9818
Mark working on building the signs in his workshop in Staunton, VA

ROB HAD A DREAM

It all started when Rob Seal, the owner of Waynesboro Music located at the Colonnade, reached out for an estimate on making a free-standing sign for the back entrance to the center off Lumos Plaza. Rob thought it would be very cool to have a new sign at the back so Appalachian Trail hikers wandering through town could see the advertising signs for the stores in case they were interested in those kinds of things. Rob had spent some time investigating Downtown Redevelopment Grants and found out that the shopping center was eligible for financial help from the City of Waynesboro for sign and landscaping upgrades.

www.augustasigncompany.com-waynesboro-va-22980-shopping center signs
Installing the new sign that was paid for with Downtown Redevelopment Grant funding.

CHOOSING THE BEST MATERIAL FOR THE JOB

I met with the owner of the complex, Jim Cook, about what type of materials he wanted to use for the new signage. After some discussion, we determined that painted aluminum signage was the best investment for durability and ability to make changes and updates through the years. So I was able to come up with conceptual drawings and pricing for the new sign at the back, and Jim requested that while I was doing it I should also give a quote and design to update the large tenant sign out front on Broad Street.

www.augustasigncompany.com-aluminum signage-22980-24401
The finished aluminum sign with updated landscaping.

STEP RIGHT UP AND SEE THE COOL SHOPPES AT THE HISTORIC COOK COLONNADE!!

After a few back and forth communications, we settled on a design and cost, and Rob was able to secure some funding for Jim! Wouldn’t it be great if all commercial landlords could harness the inititiative of tenants like Rob Seal? Once the deposit was received, I applied for the permits needed from the city and began ordering materials for the project. At this particular time there was a blip in the supply chain for aluminum and it took a little longer than the usual 6-8 weeks to get the posts and framing materials in; but once everything was in, it only took a week or two to complete the new signs.

www.augustasigncompany.com-cook-colonnade-signage
The updated tenant sign on Broad Street still waiting for the two hand-turned wooden spindles like before.

As I get older, I opt not to do some of the high installation work that I used to do when I was younger. Jim was able to find a sub-contractor for the rebuild of the wooden sign and a sub for the background painting for the large sign. I only provided the design and manufacture of the individual ACM panels with cut vinyl graphics. At this time, Jim is still waiting on the two decorative colonial wooden spindles for the sides. The Lumos Boulevard sign was up just in time to catch the usual 20,000 visitors at the Waynesboro Fall Foliage Festival in October, 2024. I hope they will do a good job in helping many people find these great small businesses over many years to come. As a small business myself serving Waynesboro, Staunton, and Augusta County, I thoroughly enjoy building signs that can help others succeed in business.

Mark Hackley is owner/operator of Augusta Sign Company, 1619 Middlebrook Road, Staunton, VA

540-943-9818

If you liked this article, here are a few more you may like too:

Branding a Non-Profit
Renaming a Brewery
I’ve Been Working On The Railroad
Signage for The Barns at Mattaponi Springs

Filed Under: News and Updates Tagged With: shopping center signs, Waynesboro, Wood Signs

Using Dimensional Wood Signs-Advantages and Disadvantages

January 12, 2024 By jalexspringer

www.augustasigncompany.com-wood signs-va-virginia

STRATEGIZE WITH WOOD

Using dimensional wood signs as part of your organization’s marketing strategy may be a successful approach of blending the distinctive character of carefully handcrafted custom wood signage with your own distinctive image and brand. If your brand would benefit from the ambiance of natural, stained, or painted dimensional wood signage products carefully designed and finished in Virginia, you may want to consider the advantages and disadvantages of wooden signs.

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THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

If you picture your building or office as a “box”, then thinking outside the box relates to your exterior signage attached to the outside areas of your building or campus. The wooden signs that I manufacture are typically 1.5” thick cedar panels with lettering/logos/emblems carved into the outside face of the boards. They can be fabricated at any size, and sized to fit the area in which they will be attached to the wall or ground-mounted support in the case of free-standing monument and post and panel type signs.

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In the case of wall-mounts, signs can be mounted flush to the wall or can also be hung perpendicular to the wall using scroll brackets. For free-standing signage, the wood signs are typically attached to some type of post system or low-wall of masonry or wood. Sometimes the wood signs are set into recesses in masonry structures for a permanent impression. Sometimes to save cost, flush vinyl graphics can be substituted for recessed or raised graphics (see Claybrook sign, a few snapshots down.)

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As mentioned earlier, the major up-side of exterior wood signs is connecting with customers. If your brand is aligned with “natural”, “earthy”, “down-home”, “old-fashioned”, “high-quality”, “rustic”, or “hand-made” messaging, then wood designs can help promote that overall feel. You may wonder how a wood sign can project both a high-quality and rustic image simultaneously: it depends on the finishing of the end product. Hand-painted and polyurethaned precision carved lettering and branding can produce a nostalgic feeling that signals a high-quality brand in the customer’s mind.

www.augustasigncompany.com-wood signs-va-virginia

Consider a quaint New England town with hand-carved wooden signs adorning the picturesque streetscape! A dentist office, a law firm, a gift shop, a bed and breakfast, a book store: they are all inviting you to come in and experience top-notch service and attention. Another advantage to v-carved wood signs is, if utilizing 23 karat gold, they can really catch your eye and draw attention. There aren’t many sign lettering options that surpass the quality of signs with real gold leaf.

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The biggest potential down-side of exterior wood signs, especially in areas south of the Mason-Dixon Line, is exposure to the elements: humidity and UV exposure being the two biggest threats to the longevity of wooden signs in Virginia, where most of my customers operate. The cost of regular maintenance is a definite consideration when planning to purchase a wood branding image. Cleaning the signs each spring and fall can extend the overall impact of your investment and lengthen their effective lifetime, and repainting or re-finishing wood signs on a three to five-year maintenance schedule is recommended. The initial cost of designing and building wood signs is also greater than using alternative signage materials, but the value of visual impact may be higher than other material options.

www.augustasigncompany.com-wood signs-va-virginia

INSIDE THE “BOX” APPLICATIONS

Wooden signs are great for outdoor applications, but don’t overlook their suitability for interior signage projects as well! I have not regularly promoted interior usage, but have worked on a few projects where the customer determined the look of the natural wood fit the identity of their product better than other traditional wall lettering options like dimensional metal letters and flush vinyl graphics. A few years ago I worked with Jon Styer, who at the time was the brand administrator for Eastern Mennonite University, to create an interior wall sign for the university’s coffee shop. An awesome graphic designer, Jon was able to blend the natural aura of stained cedar with a clean, clear, glossy acrylic cover that formed the background for the vinyl branding. It was a neat approach that utilized wood, plastic and vinyl lettering. Usually a sign is made of one or the other substrates, but this case blended all three signage materials into a great looking sign that was spot lit from above.

www.augustasigncompany.com-wood signs-va-virginia

YOU MAKE THE CALL

If you’re looking for a way to incorporate natural or painted wood signs into your business or organization, please reach out to Mark Hackley, owner, Augusta Sign Company, serving a large geographic area of Central Virginia seeking quality signage products and services. Using wood signage for branding certainly has advantages and disadvantages, but perhaps Mark can help you determine if wood is a good fit for your signage needs. And how much does it cost to go with wood versus less expensive urethane and aluminum composite options? Mark will be happy to meet with you to discuss!

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Contact Mark Hackley, Augusta Sign Company- 540-943-9818; [email protected]

Filed Under: News and Updates Tagged With: Carved Wood Signs, interior signs, Sandblasted Signs, VA, Virginia, Waynesboro, Wood Signs

FREE VEGETARIAN COOKING CLASS IN WAYNESBORO, VA

March 2, 2016 By Mark Hackley

Nothing to do with signs, guys, but if people aren’t healthy in Waynesboro and Augusta County, they won’t be able to read signs, so in that respect it may be of interest!

The Waynesboro Seventh-day Adventist Church will present a free, informal two-hour vegetarian cooking class Sunday, March 6, 2016 from 3 to 5 PM at 1700 Lyndhurst Rd., Waynesboro, VA.

Presenter, Alina Ehrlich, will explain the nutritional value and health benefits of vegetarian cooking. Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions and taste samples made prior to the event. Recipes will be given to all attendees.

Please call 540-949-7291 or 703-915-9115 to RSVP.

Filed Under: News and Updates Tagged With: VA, Vegetarian Cooking, Waynesboro

Who Makes Bronze Plaques in Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County?

July 11, 2015 By Mark Hackley

Who makes bronze plaques in Waynesboro, Staunton, and Augusta County? I do: Augusta Sign Company that is.

I, Mark Hackley, founded Tree Street Signs in 1990, two years after settling in Waynesboro, Virginia. Fifteen years after selling the sign company in 2000, I am once again back in business!

One of the things I did well then and now, is designing and installing custom plaques.

Back in the 1990’s I made plaques for many people, including the Waynesboro Airport, the Waynesboro Public Library, along with many area churches, schools and non-profit organizations across Augusta County. The neat thing about making plaques is in the design and selection of materials to use to honor the person, or people involved. There are many choices to consider for long-lasting plaques:

  • Solid Cast Bronze
  • Solid Cast Aluminum
  • Plate Metals
  • Porcelain Enamel
  • Hardwoods
  • Gold Leaf

The plaques I made in the 1990’s are still around, quietly boasting the efforts and achievements of the greats around Augusta County, Virginia. If you or your organization needs help with selecting the right plaque for your special person or occasion, please contact us anytime.

Read about my back-in-business story in the Waynesboro News Virginian Here!

Many things are the same and some things are different than before:

WHAT’S THE SAME?

  • Licensed Class B Virginia Contractor
  • Dedicated to Product Quality and Customer Service
  • Strong Sign Design Capabilities
  • Specializing in Hand-Crafted Quality, Custom Wood Signs
  • Good/ Better/ Best Options
  • Range of Customers will be from Small Entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 Companies
  • Many Returning Customers

WHAT’S DIFFERENT?

  • Many New Customers
  • No Sales Office; I come to you when you need help with a signage project
  • Smaller, More Selective Workload: Our products and services are valuable to your image and worth the wait in scheduling your project!

Filed Under: News and Updates Tagged With: Bronze Plaques, VA, Virginia, Waynesboro

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