Every sign has a story at Edmonton's Neon Sign Museum
Randal Kay admits he never thought he'd see the warm glow of his neon sign.
His father, Bill, owned the jewelry store W.C. Kay Imports and Distributors, near 98th Street and Jasper Avenue.
In 1960, a young man entered his father's jewelry store and offered to swap a glowing neon sign for a sparkling engagement ring.
"The next morning the fellow was at the door with a sign and a crew," Kay said.
"They hung the sign up in front of the building. He took his engagement ring and told my father he'd be back the next morning to hook it all up. We never saw him again."
The sign hung unlit for years — first outside and then inside, as part of the family business lore.
That changed this month, when Edmonton's Neon Sign Museum at 104th Street and 104th Avenue flicked the switch on 10 new signs, including Kay's.
"Myself and my whole family stood through the whole ceremony thinking, 'Ah it's never going to get turned on, it will never turn on, but they did [it].
"It was a real charge, to put it quite bluntly."
The sign that started it all
The sign museum started in 2002, when a city worker noticed a Canadian Furniture neon sign coming down along 97th street.
It was destined for the junk heap, but the city stepped in and took possession of it.
Over time, they took in more donations, which the members of the Alberta Sign Association repaired and restored. In 2012, they had enough to launch the museum.
The City of Edmonton has spent $250,000 to build the frame and maintain the collection since it launched.
The Neon Sign Museum is outdoors, free and open year round. Johnston says it's the first museum of its kind in Canada.
Eighteen signs are on display, with space for a dozen more, while across the street on the outside of the historic Mercer Warehouse there's room for another 12 more, according to Johnston.
"People really have a connection to them, and to see them all get tossed away as the new signage came into place just doesn't seem right," Johnston said.
With partners like The Mercer, Telus and the Downtown Business Association on board and the new downtown arena opening kitty corner to the museum, Johnston only expects the buzz to grow.
History lights up
In hanging Kay's sign, Kevin Barabash and his crew finally finished a job that was started 56 years earlier.
Barabash owns Skyline Sign Services Ltd. As one of the companies that belong to the Alberta Sign Association, they volunteer time and supplies to restore the glowing artifacts of the city's business history.
When Barabash looks up at the side of the brown brick Telus building decorated in neon, he sees the history of his profession as well.
"Our guys just love it. They want to leave a bit of a legacy for our company, the kids, grandkids and our city," he said.
Barabash said he even hand-painted the Edmonton Turkish Baths Ltd. sign. That business opened in October 1913 and featured steam baths, a barbershop, cigar stands and shoeshine.
For long-time Edmonton business owners like Randal Kay, being a part of the collection "brings a thrill."
You can see more from the Edmonton Neon Sign Museum this weekend on Our Edmonton at 10 a.m. on Sunday and Monday at 11 a.m. on CBC TV.
