Southampton Township, New Jersey

Vincentown’s “Burma Shave” Signs Restored

The historic “Burma Shave” signs along Landing Street at the Allen Farm near Vincentown were recently replaced during a brief ceremony attended by residents and officials associated with the project.  The signs were originally erected in May, 1996 after the late Jack Allen suggested to local historian Dot Best that she enter Vincentown in a contest sponsored by Reminisce Magazine.  One set of signs would be awarded to each state in the US.  Vincentown won the only set for the state of New Jersey.  Over the past 16 years the signs deteriorated and only one was left standing. County Historian Joe Laufer felt the signs should be restored, and with the help of Holly Doyle, an artisan from Mill Race Village in Mt. Holly and a member of the Medford Historical Society, created a replacement set of signs with the original verse: Today’s Kids, Sure Missed a Treat, No Midnight Rides, In a Rumble Seat – Burma Shave.   The signs were re-dedicated on Monday, July 3^rd. Rick Allen represented his late Dad at the ceremony and Coles Roberts provided a 1930 Model “A” Ford with a rumble seat occupied by Timmy and Ryan Ritter, grandchildren of Bob Ritter, President of the Southampton Historical Society – in keeping with the theme of the verse. Dot Chappine, president of the society when the signs went up in 1996 and Dot Best also participated, along with Mayor Jim Young and Committeeman Jim Minster. The story about the original signs from Reminisce Magazine  (Jan., 1997) appears elsewhere on this website on the History tab, under “Nostalgia.”

L-R – Timmy & Ryan Ritter, Dot Chappine, Joe Laufer, Bob Ritter, Mayor Young, Jim Minster

L-R – Holly Doyle, Rick Allen, Mayor Young, Joe Laufer, Dot Best, Dot Chappine and Ryan & Timmy Ritter in the Rumble Seat of 1930 Model “A” Ford owned by Coles Roberts.