The Poinsett Hotel sign was lit, on New Years Eve, for the first time in 40 years. The sign is a piece of history which dates back many years and will now be a part of Greenville’s future as well … The photo also includes the Liberty building, the Carolina First building, and the old Cigar Factory with the Devereaux’s restaurant sign.
January 2, 2008 - The Poinsett Hotel sign
linkerjpatrick said,
I’m very glad to see it back. I remember it being on when I was a little boy in the 70’s However did they change it? Didn’t it used to say “Hotel Poinsett” rather than Poinsett Hotel? Also I think the lights used to be neon red but now it looks like neon white with a red background.
ann said,
Great photo. I really like the Poinsett Hotel sign. It gives me a feeling of an earlier era in time.
Mike Burton said,
linkerjpatrick you are correct, the sign did say Hotel Poinsett before it was re-lit
Brian said,
This was my first to learn of the sign’s “relighting.” Great night shot of our skyline, Denton.
jazzy said,
Denton, to you and your family all the best in the New Year 2008!
denton said,
linkerjpatrick, I have photos of the sign before it was re-lit so I know you are correct that the sign was “Hotel Poinsett” and has been changed. However, the original color of the lights was before my time. We will have to rely on your childhood memories.
ann, the photo seems to have a toy city look to me. If I did not know better I might expect to a hand reach down and reposition the buildings.
Mike Burton, thanks for your verification of linerjpatrick’s comment.
Brian, I hope you don’t rely on me as your only news source. I a little short on the detail.
Jazzy, thank you and I all the best to you and yours as well. I really enjoy visiting Tuzla through your photos.
Wayne said,
That is a beautiful shot!
Tigerlily said,
I agree that the sign was red. I do not know when that changed as I was a small child in the 70s. The hotel was closed for so long it got to the point where you just did not see it anymore.
When I was a teenager it was quite the thing to go in a broken window in the lobby floor cafe and into the ballroom. If you threw a baseball at the chandelier, it would drop its “crystals” (They were plastic) and it was a big deal to collect them.
Not that I ever did it, I was too afraid of being caught :)
Lessie said,
Beautiful photo — love the perspective and the green lights.
Southern Heart said,
Wonderful photo…and the hotel reminds me of our Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Lovely building…
Gwen said,
Terrific photograph of downtown Greenville at night.
Mark said,
A great photograph, indeed. According to the Greenville News article on the relighting event (New Year’s Eve 2007), the sign, constructed in the 1960s, originally read, “Jack Tarr Poinsett Hotel,” in reference to one of its many owners. When it was restored, the words “Jack Tarr” were removed. Also, about coloring, the actual letters are red with white outlining. Hence they appear red during the day and white at night. (Not sure about the original lighting, that’s before my time.)
Speaking of signs, I was actually hoping they’d put the old sign back up on the front of the building, near street level, which was also neon (but dates to an earlier period, say 1930s/40s). But I suppose that one has been lost–and it was cheaper to restore the existing sign on the roof.
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