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Show Utah. Modern road maps were not as easy to obtain nor as complete as they later became-so stranger prospective buyers could benefit by some additional directions on a sign. The coming of the painter was timed right. While riding to Thistle he and John K explored and evaluated various possibilities. The place most favored by John K was on the face of a mountain west of Thistle. But because of its inaccessibility they decided against the location. At last they settled on the jutting rock protruding from the north mountain that faced the big bridge leading to the south road. Mt. Pleasant was approximately 35 miles South of Thistle. There was an almost smooth surface on the protruding rock and it provided an excellent base for a sign. An area of about 25 by 30 feet was marked off and painted black. A white border-strip helped in outlining the total black surface. The letters and the picture of a Rambouillet Ram were painted white, "John K. Madsen" was done in smaller letters, and "Registered sheep for sale-Mt. Pleasant, Utah-35 miles south" were the words completing the big sign. It was an immediate attention getter and could be seen by anyone approaching it from any direction. John K was pleased with the sign and with the workmanship. The paint proved to be of superior quality and was repainted only once during its years when a layer of the rock had slipped off the sign several years after its initial painting A nephew of John K's, Allan Madsen, was an art student and he was hired to repaint the sign. That second coat en- 238 |
