STORE SIGN #1 FROM HAVANA, ARKANSAS

Havana, Arkansas (not to be confused with Cuba, Missouri) is at the base of Mount Magazine, the highest point in the state. I recommend a visit to both. Havana doesn't have a lot of lively entertainment, but this store is just chuck full o' Vestiges, many which I'll be featuring in future posts.

The sign is apparently for 'Sir Walter Raleigh' brand chewing tobacco, and it's 44 per cent fresher. Fresher than what? Fresher than the last spent chew in your cheek? Fresher than the teenage bag boy that winked at you while you were at the grocery store? Fresher than the last batch they made?

Fresher than a glass of ice-cold homemade lemonade?

Surely not.

But it is pouch-packed. Whatever that means. I guess it could have been packed in a used casket.

The brick mortar is disintegrating, which is not surprising as it is a lime/sand/water mix with little or no Portland to make it hard (oh my!). Probably why the brick still looks good.