January 26, 2009

For those of you who may not know about my little corner of the country, NW Pennsylvania, I'll tell you a little bit about the area.

Meadville is the town I have called home since about '94. It's located in a valley between several low rolling hills. When my parents visited here from Iowa, Mom called them mountains. I guess its all a matter of perspective. A river called French Creek run through the community.

Several industries have called Meadville home since it was founded about 220 years ago. Textiles and fiber manufactures were some of the early industries. The zipper was invented in Meadville and was manufactured here by the Talon company for many years. Talon and other manufacturers spawned another industry in the area: the Tool & Die Industry. The area has been call the Tool & Die Capital of the World. Although the industry has gone through hard times like everyone else, dozens of shops, small and large, still call the area home.

We also have all the support services right here in town. If you want some thing made, it can be made here in Meadville. There are heat treaters, platers, machine shops, foundries, designers, molders, pretty much any industry you can name is represented in this community!

Allegheny College is also located here. It is a national liberal arts college recognized for its degree programs for educators and other fields of study.

Dad's Dog food is located here. It is a great example of a family owned business that has done well.

Channellock, the maker of the famous pliers and other hand tools is another company that started here and is still here and is a leader in their industry.

The Meadville area was also prominent in the history of our country. George Washington traveled though here when he was investigating the rumors for the French and Indians cooperating with each other to push the English back toward the coast.

Just east of here near Titusville Colonel Drake drilled the first oil well and started the oil industry we depend on today. Titusville is celebrating the 150th year anniversary of this well being drilled this year.

The famous abolitionist, John Brown, had a tannery northeast of Meadville. The foundation of one of the structures remains on the site and is in a small park open to visitors. There is even a small museum with pictures and artifacts from the area. Some of John Brown's family is buried in the cemetery just a short walk up the hill from the tannery site.

Well there is much more. But I'll get to that later.

-Al

Yak Signs

First what is Yak Signs:
We are a small full service sign shop specializing in carved signs and located in NW Pennsylvania.

A real Mom & Pop operation. My wife and I do everything here from sales, design, carving and routing, painting, to installing.

My plan for this blog is have a place where I can show recent projects. Talk about our business, the sign business in general, business issues that effect all of us, as well as anything else that comes to mind.

From time to time we will also put up posts with links to other companies and people that we work with to let you know about them as well.

Who knows maybe you will find the right person or company for the job you have in the planning stages now.

More to come later.