In Praise of Ghost Signs

In 2025, Baltimore National Heritage Area hosted a photo contest called “It’s a Snap!” Submitted photos must represent something about how Baltimore plays a unique role in U.S. history. On a whim, I sent in a snapshot of a ghost sign that my cousin, a South Baltimore native, once pointed out while we were strolling through Fells Point. If you squint your eyes, you should be able to barely make out the words: “Vote Against Prohibition.” Incidentally, my cousin was one of the owners for many years of Prohibition, a popular bar-restaurant on the upper west side of Manhattan on Columbus Ave. The photo was a third-place winner and got me a $200 gift card, which will help me treat my cousin to a decent meal at a local restaurant.