Directional Sign "Guide Board" Re-Installation

The Wakefield Heritage Commission re- installed the directional sign or “Guide Board” at the intersection of Rt 153 and Wakefield Rd at Wakefield Corner. As part of a National Grange contest, the previous sign had been installed by the Lovell Union Grange in 1949. The Grange built, painted and installed signs at intersections of roads in Wakefield and Brookfield as well as at historic sites in both Towns. They won the first-place award for New Hampshire for this project. Many of these signs can still be found.

The original sign and granite post was installed at this location in 1810. In 1843, Guideposts and Guide Boards, as they were called at that time, were mandatory by law at all intersections of highways in a Town. Furthermore, if anyone “threw down”, destroyed or defaced a sign, they could be fined up to $10. This was a lot of money at that time as a daily wage was only 50 cents.

The new sign was constructed by JC Signs of Wolfeboro and installed on the original granite post under the direction of the Wakefield Heritage Commission. Shown in photo: Pam Wiggin, Chairman of the WHC and Phil Twombley, Vice Chairman.