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63 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, September 20, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 2, 2004 A long-hidden advertisement materialized as a painter power-washed old paint off the Fluhrer Bakery Building this weekend on Ivy Street in downtown Medford. The building�s owner is trying to restore the old wall graphic. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Paint crew bares historic mural Advertisement on the Fluhrer Bakery Building might get restored, owner says By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune A local painter removing old paint with water pressure got a blast from the past. A 35-by-15-foot Fluhrer Bakery advertisement, buried beneath two coats of paint, came into view Sunday on a 1933 historic downtown building. The Fluhrer Bakery Building at 29 N. Holly St. is owned and being renovated by Medford attorney Bill Ferguson. Ferguson is looking into keeping the ad rather than painting over it. The graphic’s age and artist have not been established yet. "I don’t think it’s from 1933," said historic preservation consultant George Kramer. Advertisement "I would probably date it circa 1950 or so ... just based on the graphics," said Kramer, who wrote a thesis on commercial signs in historic downtowns. Kramer is meeting today with a sign specialist to look into the restoration project. Gary Osborn, the painter who made the discovery Sunday, said he was surprised when he was pressure-washing old paint off and the old sign, buried for decades, came through. "It adds quite a bit of nostalgia," he said. He said the original paint was oil-based, and chemical paints used these days come off more easily, so the Fluhrer sign held on. Medford Urban Renewal Agency Director Kurt Olsen said part of Ferguson’s building renovation is being covered by a $17,500 fa�ade improvement grant offered through MURA. The grant pays for half of the painting, wainscoting and awnings along Main and Holly streets. "In addition to that, Mr. Ferguson is doing much more work on the building," he said, adding that restoring the sign would not be funded by the MURA grant. "This will be the 27th fa�ade project of the 50 applications that have been submitted," said Olsen, adding that MURA has granted $350,000 so far for fa�ade work on downtown buildings. Ferguson was out of town Wednesday and could not be reached for comment. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] History of the Fluhrer Bakery building 1922 — German-born John A. Fluhrer moved to Medford and established Colonial Bakeries, which later became Fluhrer Bakeries. He ran it with his son, William Henry "Heine" Fluhrer. Fluhrer’s soon opened branches in Yreka and Klamath Falls. 1933 — The modern art-deco Fluhrer Bakery building, designed by Frank Clark, was built at 29 N. Holly St. The state-of-the-art automated bakery was highly acclaimed. John Fluhrer died two months after the opening. 1930s-1940s — Heine Fluhrer was a prominent and active community member, and was involved in things like raising money to buy land for what would become Hawthorne Park. He also built an airplane landing field with Karl Janouch at Lake of the Woods. 1948 — Heine Fluhrer died in an airplane accident. His widow, Margaret, took over the bakery business. 1962 — Margaret Fluhrer sold the business. The Holly Street building, which was later sold to Williams Bakery, has since seen many businesses, including a warehouse and office/retail spaces. 1982 — The building is listed on National Register of Historic Places. 1990 — Medford attorney Bill Ferguson buys building. 2004 — Ferguson, in conjunction with the Medford Urban Renewal Agency, begins renovating the building. Sources: Southern Oregon Historical Society and Mail Tribune archives Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities