Does anyone know the story behind those mirrored address signs? I've seen them all over the neighborhood, especially North of Girard. They seem handmade, with a wood base and the numbers made of carefully-places mirror shards. I don't recall seeing them in other parts of the city but I could be wrong.

there was a time in the neighborhoods when guys would go around and offer to paint your address on the front of your house or on the curb in white paint for a few bucks; almost all the houses had them in Fairmount and other neighborhoods; handmade address signs were also offered. I'd guess there are still folks who provide that service.

There's actually a city code provision requiring an address sign or marker or whatever. The fire dept. and the cops need to be able to find the specific address quickly without too much guess work if called.