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New Market leaders recently held the first in a series of workshops that will explore options for a new or refurbished sign that advertises the town on Interstate 70.

The workshop sprang from the interest of Councilman David Price in updating the 35-year-old sign proclaiming the town the "Antiques Capital of Maryland," which he feels should reflect the more diverse selection of shops the town currently boasts.

"I think we all agree that it's in need of some tender love and care," Price said on Dec. 16.

But some antique dealers in New Market fear that a change to the sign would negatively affect their businesses, and they attended the workshop to make their voices heard.

The meeting was mainly "informational" according to Price. He had hoped to gather information from interested parties to see what they thought a refurbished sign should look like.

The sign was constructed in 1974 at a cost of $1,400 by the Antique Dealer's Association in New Market, according to Bud Rossig, who owns E. Rossig's an art gallery and framing shop. Rossig said that the sign was recognized by the State Highway Administration in 1981, under a program which recognized historic highway signs. However, the state no longer has such a program, and its existence has been called into question at previous meetings.

"Nobody ever remembers this 1981 program but me," Rossig said.

However, there were two plaques on either side of the double-faced sign, numbered 27 and 28, which proclaim it an historic sign.

"The only thing that makes it historic is a [plaque] that nobody recognizes anymore," Price said.

Rossig agreed to look for more information on the program that recognized the sign in the first place.

Diane Gruenwald, a sales representative for Carlisle, Pa.-based W. J. Strickler Signs, who also lives in New Market, was interested in offering her services to re-vamp the interstate sign.

She is currently working with the cities of Charles Town and Ranson in West Virginia and Walkersville and Mount Airy on designing similar welcome signs to those communities. She suggested an internally-illuminated sign, with an electronic message board that could advertise local events.

"It's basically saying ‘come visit me, stroll my streets, eat in my restaurants, stay in my inns,'" Gruenwald said.

Gruenwald said the lifespan of a roadway sign was between 10-15 years because of weather damage and parts wearing out.

Price said the cost of repairing the current sign, even without changing it, would be between $1,800 and $3,500.

The prospective cost of using W. J. Strickler's services is $18,000, and Price said this would require town business owners to raise half of the money and search for a grant that would match $9,000.

Howard Edwards, a New Market resident and member of the Planning and Zoning Committee, said he was concerned that town money would go toward repairing or changing the sign. He said the sign did not need to be changed, and it would be a waste to do so.

Price said he is still gathering information on what the best course to take would be and so far no town resources have been spent on the sign.

"But that's the way we're slanting, aren't we," Edwards said.

The next workshop will be held at 6:30 p.m., Jan. 20 at Town Hall, 39 W. Main St.

E-mail Christian Brown at chbrown@gazette.net.