Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 26, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - At least one person knows how a three-storey sign uncovered late last month on the front side of the Bellanca Building came to be.

This graffiti post cheering on the Edmonton Eskimos was uncovered recently on the side of the Bellanca building, which is undergoing renovations. Written in 1973, the source was a mystery until earlier this month. - NNSL file photo

Mickey Brown, whose late husband Clarence "Shorty" Brown founded Bellanca Developments, which owned and built the building, recalls when the sign cheering on the 1973 Edmonton Eskimos was painted.

She said construction workers affixing the siding on the office tower added on the graffiti just prior to Nov. 25 Grey Cup match between Edmonton and the Ottawa Rough Riders.

The sign reads: "Go Esks! Cup '73 West - Luv them Esks."

"The boys who were working on the building painted it," said Brown.

She said the decision to paint the sign was made while the workers waited for the siding to arrive.

They were working for Carlson Contractors, owned by Don A. Carlson. She said the small signature "D.A.N." added to the sign was in reference to Carlson.

The 34-year-old graffiti was uncovered as work crews with Hovat Construction began peeling back the siding to replace it.

Despite the Carlson crew's efforts to cheer on their team, Edmonton lost to Ottawa 22-18.