This restored mural adorns the side of the old cotton warehouse.
Metcalfe Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Orange-Crush Mural, Metcalfe
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown
Since 2008. A visual survey of Georgia's historic architecture and culture. 9,000 locations. 30,000 images.
In the heights of the Depression, after serving in the U.S. Navy, my father, as a very young man, worked for his uncle, who traveled the south, painting these advertisements for Orange Crush. His stories very fantastic; for example, in rural Louisiana, he once picked up Baby Face Nelson hitchhiking (much like in the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou?”). I have some pictures of the some of the signs somewhere.
Fascinating! I’d love to see some one day if you ever find them. Those mural painters brought a lot of color to towns which really needed it in those hard times.
Love Orange Crush. Spending the summers in South Georgia I would drink Orange Crush, Nehi and RC Cola. Orange Crush came in a brown opaque bottle. Once I had one that wasn’t cold so my aunt put some ice in a glass and poured it in the glass. Surprise, the liquid was light chartreuse bordering on yellow. It still tasted good even though I thought it would be orange.
I don’t like it at all. I photographed the unrestored version a few years back on a chilly, foggy morning on our way from Thomasville to Tallahassee.
I wish I’d seen the original, Mike. Do you still have the photo?
Yes I do and it’s true that there wasn’t very much to see. The new sign isn’t what I’d call a restoration proper. Just a recreation over the top of the original remains.
I’d be happy to send it to you if you’d like.
wbrianbrownATgmail. I’d like to see and maybe share here.
I dont know if there was much of the original showing, however the restoration is much too intense and not that well done. Restorations should be minimally applied just enough to bring out the existing image. I am sure the original craftsmanship was much better.
I agree that restorations should be minimally applied! While this is appealing in its own right, it certainly appears to be overdone.