Shootin' The Bull

Bull Durham Ghost Sign-Mendota, IL, originally uploaded by William 74.

Bull Durham Tobacco was one of the more well known American tobacco brands of the 18th and 19th centuries, with their distinctive white muslin pouches and round tags. Their advertising signs were very common, and can still be found on buildings here and there. I'm amazed at this fact, seeing as how tobacco advertising has been so heavily regulated, but sensibly people seem to not worry about old advertisements for somewhat obscure products.

This one's in rural Mendota, and almost looks like it's been touched up at some time-it's in very good shape. It's clearly a landmark, too, because when I photographed it, a guy who was going into the building said "Ya shootin' the bull?", then offered to let me go on the roof of the adjacent building for a better shot. I didn't take him up on the offer, partially because I didn't want to impose, and partially because i wasn't sure if it'd be a better shot. But it was nice of him to ask-such is life in small town America.