Mail Pouch Barn

farmerjohn · Jul 31, 2016

I posted photos a couple weeks ago of the Mail Pouch mural I did on my shed. (First photo) I was traveling today and saw this little barn (second photo) which is about 40 miles from where I live, and the closest one to me that I know of that can be seen from the road. Along the same route I can remember at least three others that are no longer standing. A disappearing icon of rural America. Located in Western PA.

K Effective · Jul 31, 2016

The only original one near me collapsed last winter

Greg1959 · Jul 31, 2016

My uncle drove all over the country taking pics of every Mail Pouch barn he saw.

Tom in TN · Jul 31, 2016

I don't know if it is entirely accurate but I read quite a few years ago that the Federal Government created a ban on tobacco advertising that could be viewed from interstate highways. Consequently, Mail Pouch (and the other tobacco products) could no longer be painted onto barns that were visible from interstate highways.

Along with the article was a biographical sketch of an aged man who used to paint the barns. He supposedly retired and quit painting when the ban went into effect.

True or false? I have no idea. It's just something I read.

Tom in TN

Greg1959 · Jul 31, 2016

Tom in That ban may be true, I do not know. Although, I drive past two Mail Pouch barns every few days and they are still in good shape and being used.

Tom in TN · Aug 1, 2016

Greg,

Are the barns visible from an interstate highway? If what I read is accurate, being visible from an interstate is the key to whether or not the barns can be painted/repainted.

But then, who knows how accurate the article was.

Tom in TN

coshoo · Aug 1, 2016

That is true. The Highway Beautification Act of (about) 1965, pushed by then first lady Lady Bird Johnson. Someone did a very nice Lucky Lager Beer sign on a barn near Interstate 5 in Washington, and a couple days later, it was painted over.

Geo-TH,In · Aug 1, 2016

Very Iconic Americana Scene, Thanks for the memory.

Geo-TH,In · Aug 1, 2016

I think you are right. Not really sure about this, A first lady that wanted a ban on many signs from the interstate, claiming it was ugly.

I was reading the war on tobacco was lead by the World Health Association not only in the US but all over the world. It sounds crazy, but the WHO, a part of UN has influenced many governments decision on all aspects they consider unhealthy.

John B. · Aug 1, 2016

Even the roof of the larger barn has a nice design on it..
Here in Illinois many of the caves such as Meramac Caverans in Mo. were advertised on barn sides and roof tops.

larry@stinescorner · Aug 1, 2016

Very nice,,you did a great job on yours

Bonnan · Aug 1, 2016

Gonna' have to take a ride out your way and see the barn. Very nice.
Jim B
Mercer Cty

4520BW · Aug 1, 2016

Is mail pouch still in business? If not I guess its not an advertisement. So if a person painted there barn with the mail pouch logo and was not getting paid could they make you paint over it?

El Toro · Aug 1, 2016

My late dad chewed Mail Pouch, no wonder he lost all his teeth. He usually chewed when milking. Hal

D beatty · Aug 1, 2016

Years ago we had a bank barn that a bread company( Kreamo Bread ?) out of South Bend,Indiana painted their sign on it.

Sean Feeney · Aug 1, 2016

After World War II, many of the barns were painted by Harley Warrick of Belmont County, Ohio.[2] He once estimated that he had painted 20,000 barns in his life, spending an average of six hours on each. Warrick claimed that he always began each barn with the "E" in the word "Chew". Other barns were painted by Mark Turley, Don Shires, and several others. Their initials remain preserved on some of the barns with the date of the painting. These initials can be found on the blue border surrounding the front side, or nearer to the roof.
Mail Pouch Tobacco Barn

dr sportster · Aug 1, 2016

Cutting down off Rt 80 through Altoona ,Pa I have passed one.

Fullers Farmalls · Aug 1, 2016

They had one just outside of New Florence, PA then the woman who owned it let it go then burned it because it was an "eye sore." The community was extremely unhappy with her over that.

Greg1959 · Aug 1, 2016

Tom in TN- Not on an interstate. They are along a old road that would have been the main road back when they were painted.

BTW, I remember my uncle telling me tha after the painter finished painting the sign, he would alwats take a picture of it and send it in to corporate. A part of the sign was to always be painted in 1 square foot. This gave corporate a scale to determine how many square feet the sign was. The painters were paid by the square foot they had painted.

dr sportster · Aug 1, 2016

I think I have a book about Harley or a sign painter book with a chapter about him. By the end of his career he did not use lay-out lines. He just knew where to paint.

INCase · Aug 1, 2016

i remember as a kid riding around Mercer County PA and eastern Ohio seeing lots of Mail Pouch ads on barns.

RandyB(MI) · Aug 1, 2016

It was a way for farmers to get a free barn paint job back then.

01gentdc · Aug 2, 2016

we in Lanesvile Ind were lucky to get Harley Warrick to come out of retirement ,in the early 90's to paint the Shellemberger barn again ,,. it is a lovely scene of Americana during our Heritage WEEkend ,,. this yr we are featuring john deere ,.. everything starts up the 1st Thursday after labor day .

Mail Pouch Barn

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