Like the old Burma Shave signs, building size ads began disappearing after the 1960's. Larry Larson of Calumet has passed by this one on Quincy hill hundreds (thousands?) of times, and fortunate for us Pasty Cam-watchers, on this particular day he grabbed a nice shot.

The King Midas Mill Company of Minneapolis had some other unusual approaches to advertising: Their motto was "The highest priced flour in America - and worth all it costs". There's an excellent history of the mill in an online book entitled, "Bald Mountain Childhood". Mary Pawlak tells how her mother would boil the flour bags to remove the print, then sew them into clothing.

Next month we'll complete one year of bringing these "Shoebox Memories" every Sunday. A big thank-you to those who have contributed shots from their shoeboxes, and my apologies we have not been able to publish them all. Larry Larson actually gave me this picture last fall, and today just seemed like a good morning for biscuits.

This web site is great. I check it every morning. Thanks for all the pictures.

Geez! I'd forgotten all about that garage billboard on Quincy Hill, but its familiarity must have been harbored somewhere deep in a dormant neuron until today. One of the ongoing beauties of these shoebox shots are the occasional eurekas of recognition we receive and register that activates our memories like a visit with an old friend.
Thanks for the nourishing new byte of brain food, Larry Larson and Pasty Cam!

It's pretty easy for us to take for granted what we pass on a routine basis. This photograph is a great record for advertising as we grew up a past memory. Now advertising is primarily electronic our TV, radio,the web page and e-mail transmissions. Thank you for helping me to respect this artful communication through a fine photograph.
Regards,
Donn

Kinda makes you wonder how hany pasty crusts have been made with King Midas flour. Makes me hungry just thinking about it.

I remember this sign from when I lived there back in the 60's. On one of our vacations back, my husband took a picture of me and my daughter in front of it, and we lost that particular roll of film somehow!!! I hope that sign's still there this or next summer, so we can get another chance to film it. It brings back memories of a wonderful place for a child to grow up.

Does anyone know how old this sign is?

Thank God for the WWW!
My GGrandfather
Charles (Karl) HONL
worked at this mill
abt. 1912.
What a proud feeling it leaves me!!!