TORONTO TYPE

The traffic may be calmed, but I get the feeling that the person who corrected this sign was agitated. Very agitated.

It takes a certain level of irritation to pull out a magic marker and correct a misspelling. Most of us would idly note the error and move on. Or more likely, not notice it at all.

Was this person traumatized at an early age by overly competitive spelling bees? Or is this simply a patriotic Canadian who insists on defending our spellings, no matter what the occasion?

Apparently this used to be a United Church and now it’s Anglican. They didn’t do such a good job of concealing the transition. That substance on the sign looks like chewing gum.

I wonder if there’s a meaning in this gesture: an animosity towards another Protestant denomination perhaps, or a holier-than-thou attitude. Or is it just evidence of a relaxed attitude towards signmaking?

When I see the word “green,” it usually means someone wants to sell me something. That’s why I like this sign so much: nothing’s for sale. And it’s a defunct gas station, so the word is perfectly apt.

The typeface looks like Cooper Black, which I find to be unabashedly sincere, both ugly and lovable at the same time.

I like signs that have been visibly amended. Here a “D” and “I” are obviously a later addition, and the awkward spacing suggests that the store name was different before. Does anyone recall what the original name was?

Since I took this picture, someone added a new layer to the sign: the store is now officially called “Gold’s.” I have a hunch that this isn’t the end… there are probably new layers to come.

This is the first photo I’m posting that comes from a contributor and he happens to be my Dad. He discovered this sign on the south end of the St. Andrew subway platform and snapped a few pictures.

At one point the sign must have said “Danger Do Not Enter.” It seems that someone replaced a tile but used a blank one as the substitute, leaving a curiously altered message.

It made my father think of the biblical directive not to let the sun go down on your anger. I see an inadvertent comment on the fiery emotions of TTC riders. What do you see?