DescriptionExterior signage from Joseph Apicella & Sons, Fish Market, 309 First St., Hoboken. Dismounted from building late 2007 (business closed 2005.) Two signs: first sign was the full width of no. 309 was 23-1/2" feet wide x ca. 4' high. It consisted of painted sheet aluminum panels (3) with a ocean wave profiled top with mounted plastic lettering in red with gold outline and spelled "Jos. Apicella & Sons." Painted lettering below: "Enjoy that Fresh Fish Flavor." Second sign: mounted above the lower sign was a doubled-sided swordfish sign that was mounted perpendicular to the building. Items in this record: -3 pieces - painted sheet aluminum, 2 @ 4' x 8', 1 @ ca. 6'-6" x 4'. -19 pieces - plastic block lettering, boxed, spelling Jos. Apicella & Sons; block letters are 21" high with varying width; ampersand and em dashes are shorter; 1" deep edging. -1 swordfish sign, double-sided, ca. 6' long x 6" high. The lower sign components now held in the collection are a facing that was applied in the 1980's to cover the original sign which probably dated to the 1950s. The original lower sign was the width of the storefront and curved out at the center about 2 feet from the building. It was a circa 10" deep box to accomodate the framing, electrical transformers and wiring for neon lettering that it once had. The dismounting of the full sign from the building was done at some point in 2007. It was removed intact, but due to very poor condition, size and weight, it was not retained. The painted sheets were attached over the old sign with blind aluminum rivets (pop rivets) which were removed. Only the applied materials as listed have been kept. The swordfish sign appears to have had similar construction and materials, but the painted aluminum panels have not been removed. When removed, it will probably reveal similar details related to neon lighting. Photos to document it have not yet been found, but it is believed that the painted detail on the profiled fish-shaped sign was re-painted in the 1990's. See photo catalog 2006.026.0002 for a view of the sign in 1980 before the the painted panels with applied lettering were placed on it; it still had the outline metal lettering where it once had neon tubing installed inside it, but the neon was no longer present in 1980. See photo catalog 2008.003.0005 for documentation photos of the sign structure that was not retained.