Iconic Coca-Cola Building in Schenectady Demolished

A Schenectady area landmark building, one that carried historic Coca-Cola advertising has been demolished.

The building, which stood at 412 Broadway was, according to the Schenectady Daily Gazette,

recently demolished after Highbridge Development of Schenectady purchased it from Frank Stewart in April for $20,000. It’s unclear what the future plans are for the property.

Ghost Signs

There's actually a name for this style of old, faded advertising on buildings. They're known as ghost signs. Wikipedia describes them as "old hand-painted advertising sign that has been preserved on a building for an extended period of time. The sign may be kept for its nostalgic appeal, or simply indifference by the owner."

In addition to the Coca-Cola building, the same block of Broadway has another ghost sign building advertising Uneeda Biscuits.

There is also a very well hidden ghost sign in Utica for Mail Pouch tobacco on a building located between Lafayette and Columbia Streets near Schuyler Street.

Searching for Downtown Utica's Hidden Vault

Tucked away under the shadow of the Genesee Street overpass is the Baggs Square Park. Located in the park is the Proctor Memorial Building. While exploring the building for this episode of the Haunts and Legends of New York, we discovered there was a hidden vault that no one could open.

[Schenectady Daily Gazette, h/t r/albany]