Sign, Trade

Title:

Ira C. Evans, Printer

Object Name:

Sign, Trade

Object ID:

2020.011

Creator:

Prescott, George (1839-1911)Sign Painter

Place of Origin:

Concord, NH

Date:

circa 1885

Description:

Trade sign. "IRA C. EVANS, / PRINTER." painted in gold lettering on a black sand-textured background. Black rectangular frame with gold and green painted liner molding. Signed "PRESCOTT", lower right corner. Double-sided. Pine and iron.

Material:

Wood
Pine

Dimensions:

H-22 W-120 D-3 inches

Provenance:

Ira Cutting Evans, son of Jonathan and Olive (Cutting) Evans, was born in Hill, NH, in 1841. The Evans family had moved to Concord by 1850, and at age 14 Ira entered the offices of McFarland & Jenks, publishers of the New Hampshire Statesman, where he learned the printer's trade. Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War, Evans enlisted as a drummer in Co. C., 12th Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers, serving as a drummer and musician through 1865. After the war Evans returned to work in Concord printing offices, eventually becoming foreman of the Republican Press Association. In 1879, he established a book and job printing partnership with George F. Sleeper (1843-1929). About 1882 they took Frank D. Woodbury (1842-1909) into the business as a partner. By 1885 the partnership was dissolved and Ira Evans operated a job and book printing business by himself, located at 13 Capitol Street, Concord. After the Civil War, he became active in the Republican Party and the Grand Army of the Republic and was appointed state printer by the state legislature, serving from 1891 through 1893. He also represented Ward 4, City of Concord, in the state legislature during 1895 and 1896. In 1884 Evans established and published The Veteran's Advocate, a monthly paper devoted to and the official organ of the Grand Army of the Republic and published many books about the Civil War, including histories of the 7th, 8th, 12th, and 15th Regiments.

George Prescott, the son of Charles and Asceneth (Thompson) Prescott, was born in Franklin, NH, in 1839. During the 1850s, Prescott moved to Concord where he served an apprenticeship as a painter. After completing his apprenticeship, he worked for the Northern Railroad; Concord Railroad; and Concord, Montreal and Lowell Railroad as a painter. By 1872 he had become foreman of the paint shop at the Concord Railroad shops, serving through 1881. In 1881 George Prescott opened his own painting business at the rear of 90 North Main Street, Concord. He worked as a sign, carriage, and ornamental painter until his death in 1911.

Credit Line:

Gift of David Smith

People:

Evans, Ira C. (1841-1902), Prescott, George (1839-1911)

Subjects:

Signs, Printers