Fading Ad Blog Rotating Header Image

Passaic Fair

Aug 29th, 2007
by fadingad.

© Frank H. Jump
© Frank H. Jump

Other Passaic signs: Passaic Sign Co., General Electric, Unknown School

Posted in: Ghost signs, ghost ads & other phantoms, Roadside Ephemera.

← →

5 Comments

  1. Maggie Pulgar says:
    January 16, 2008 at 7:06 pm

    THANK YOU!!!! I live 5 minutes from the city of Passaic and often take the buses from Passaic bus terminal to work (Due to eye surgery I’ve been unable to drive). That sign stares me in the face nearly every day and I’ve often thought of taking a pic of it. Leave it to you to have done so! 😀

    I’m guessing Fair was some sort of Department/Discount store back in the day.

    On that same block of Main Street in Passic, there is an old painted add for the Passaic Sign Co. lol it is blending with yet another art form, graffiti.

  2. Tom Turrin says:
    August 15, 2010 at 11:34 am

    I was born in Passaic. My family has roots there. The Fair on Main Ave in Passaic, was indeed a lady’s discount apparel store. Passaic back in the 40’s- 50’s and into the early 60’s was a major retail center. Downtown Passaic was an extremely vibrant area with hundreds of retail stores, several big movie theaters, restaurants etc. Passaic was a major manufacturing city with many factories making all kinds of products. The railroad (to Hoboken Terminal) ran right down the middle of Main Ave., providing an easy commute. Once the railroad came out in 1963 and about the same time, industry dried up, the city’s economic fortunes faded.

    1. fadingad says:
      August 15, 2010 at 5:32 pm

      Thanks for stopping by Tom. Your depiction of Passaic sounds like a familiar American town story. Fortunately for NJ, the immigrant population finds new roots and redefines the area. Do come back and visit again. Frank

  3. dianaluvsjesus says:
    April 14, 2015 at 1:15 pm

    Downtown Passaic was an extremely vibrant area with hundreds of retail stores, several big movie theaters, restaurants etc. Passaic was a major manufacturing city with many factories making all kinds of products. The railroad to Hoboken Terminal ran right down the middle of Main Ave., providing an easy commute. They also had a restaurant in the second floor that you can view the city while you are dining Chinese up on the main street by the Montauk theater we had great Movies you can watch a few and cartoons intermission, we had a lot of activities for the children in all the parks, #11 school park used to have its beautiful greenery, beautiful flowers and trees, and benches to sit and enjoy as well as baseball fields, they as well had the most amazing parades Once the railroad came down and about the same time, industry dried up we were the most Industrial back than as well, its was a Blessing to Be Raised and live in the City of Passaic, the Bank Building Oh Glory to God had an elevator man there to take you up stairs to the offices. the Ys were over filled with Programs with love and with Swimming programs. the city’s life and its History just started to fade. away. The Martinique building where I was very proud as I grown up to manage had its history there has well beautiful hall ways it had as well a bell man at the door whom will take you up to the condo. when I managed the building in the early 90s I remember growing up right around the corner on Irving place and I recall the Martinique building with a bell man with a red suit and a hat at the glass door to take you up to the floors where you resided at on the front of the Martinique it had medical offices in the basement area of the building in the front. The Frostman Library on Gregory had children’s programs there regular. I was The Shirelles they had a son Gregory I used to play with they were nei. growing up on Irving Place. Down town on Hoover it was where everyone went to get their fruits and their vegetables at the market. There was so much activity going on for children and a peaceful City where everyone wanted to go so alive and vibrant. Today my children and grandchildren and great granddaughter resides there and its faded away all the history. I am so Proud to be a Great Part of that History especially being in all the parades.

    1. fadingad says:
      April 15, 2015 at 2:52 am

      Thank you so much for visiting and providing this vivid historical narrative. You have a wonderful way with words. Please come back again.