Revere Copper and Brass was founded in 1801 by Paul Revere.
In 1948 this neon sign was installed on the roof of Revere Copper and Brass on North Front Street in New Bedford, MA.
During the 1950's and 1960's I (Roger Chartier) would often travel over the Fairhaven-New Bedford bridge on the way to and from my paternal grandparent's house on West Island.
When I was about 2-3 years old I learned the word "cheval" meaning horse from my parents because they always took any opportunity to teach me French words.
I was always excited to see the horse and rider illuminated and with the legs moving as we crossed the bridge at night.
The sign measures 25 feet tall and 44 feet wide. It is made of copper with five colors. There are 126 sections of neon.
It takes 200 pieces to make the illusion of the legs galloping. Altogether there are over 1000 feet of neon tubing.
Sometime in the 1970's the lights went out. They were disconnected and by 1994 the sign was removed because it was in bad shape.
WHALE the local Waterfront Historic Area League, led a fundraiser to rehab it.
The cost was about $50,000 to$100,000..
Since 1998, the sign can be seen as you are driving east on Route 195 near the New Bedford Water Tower on Hathaway Road.
Seeing the sign at night warms the cockles or cockle, I'm not sure, of this writer's heart.
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