Restoration Complete on Historic Clabber Girl Billboard
(photo courtesy of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe restoration of a long-standing landmark in Terre Haute is complete. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Clabber Girl Corp. have worked since last fall to restore the billboard, touting Terre Haute as "the home of Clabber Girl Baking Powder," which has stood since the 1930s.
The effort was conducted with the help of Becky Hochhalter, a professional artist in the Wabash Valley. Hochhalter repainted the sign with the same colors and images. Crews also restored the clock with the ability to change the time via remote control, allowing for easier changes for Daylight Saving Time.
Rose-Hulman took over ownership of the sign in 2017 when it acquired more than 1,100 acres of land from the Hulman family, which founded Clabber Girl.
"The billboard, with its large clock on top, has been an important part of the community. People really missed it during the restoration process," said Rose-Hulman President Robert Coons. “We wanted the billboard restored to its original glory.”
The institute says landscaping around the base of the billboard will be added soon, depending on weather conditions.
The 44-foot-long billboard is located along U.S. 40 on the eastern edge of Terre Haute. It is believed to be the oldest billboard in Indiana and one of the first electric billboards in the country due to the large clock.