September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
This two-piece, hand painted, wood segregation sign has an eye-opening folk art appearance. The first piece is 36" x 11-1/2", painted with a white wash background which has thinned with age relieving some wood show through. In large 3-1/2," hand painted lettering, in dark blue paint, the piece reads "COLORED SECTION." The board retains two pencil lines used to guide the lettering. The back has only the white wash, now with a slight green hue from age. Minor wood cracks and chipping only adds to the folk art appeal. ... The second board is similar in all respects except about 4"on the bottom is missing, making it 36" x 7-1/2.". The lettering again is hand painted, in dark blue paint with words, "PINE BLUFF" and on the second line, the lettering is missing its lower half, but likely read "SECTION." There are eye screws on the top of each piece for hanging. The piece was bought in Arkansas during the tear down of a building. As part of the struggle for equal rights, the desegregation of railroad travel was achieved by a series of Supreme Court decisions in 1949, 1950 and 1955. So, although the date of this sign is unknown, it is likely pre 1950. Pine Bluff Arkansas is 45 miles south of Little Rock. With the arrival of the railroad in 1873, Pine Bluff became a cargo transport point between rail and river, and now houses the Arkansas Railroad Museum.
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