City celebrates return of Eagle Ford neon sign

More than a decade after the City of Burnaby bought the Eagle Ford neon sign, one of the landmarks of Hastings Street, the sign has finally returned to its perch. On Thursday, Feb. 27, the city is celebrating the sign’s return to its original location at 4191 Hastings St. 

All Burnaby residents are invited to celebrate the eagle’s return to its perch from 6-7pm at the intersection of Hastings Street and Carleton Avenue. 

The sign was removed from its location 40 years ago when the Eagle Ford dealership closed in 1985. According to the city, it then became part of a private collection for 25 years, after which the City of Burnaby acquired it in 2012. 

“Local neon sign company Galaxie Signs completed the restoration, using traditional sign fabrication techniques to repaint the eagle design and bend neon tubes to recreate the original look. Vancouver-based neon sign historian John Atkin provided a conservation plan to guide the meticulous work,” the city said in a statement. 

The sign was installed in the 1940s at Walsh Motors on Hastings Street. 

“Originally part of Richfield Oil products, the eagle symbol became synonymous with Eagle Motors Garage and Sales, which later became a Ford Motor Company dealership in 1956,” the city said. 

By the 1950s, Hastings Street was home to several iconic neon signs, many of which still exist today, such as the Swinging Girl sign at Helen’s Children’s Wear. 

“The Burnaby Heights is one of most distinct neighbourhoods in all of Metro Vancouver, with longtime businesses, generations of families and iconic artwork and signage contributing to the neighbourhood’s character and charm,” said Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley in a statement. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to bring the community together again as we return the refurbished Eagle Ford neon sign to its original location.”

This piece was made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.

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