This might be a first in the history of this mapping project. A wall was cleared of old paint and it REVEALED old signs instead of removing them. Shocking, I know. We’ve seen it before in this 2021 post on Par-T-Pak beverage signs in the Bay Area. This building is known as “the Oriental Block” and sits on Washington Street in Old Oakland. Built in the 1880's by architect John Marquis, it’s been designated Oakland Landmark #LM 82-263. Back in the early fall of 2021, the building’s billboards were removed, revealing a partial Par-T-Pak beverages sign from the 1930’s-1950’s. Given the age of the building, I’ve always known there were considerably older signs under that beige paint. Well, lo and behold, in spring of 2022 that paint was stripped, revealing faint outlines of those very signs.