A sign of the times:

 Instead of telling passers-by about it's products, Ganahl Lumber offers fun sayings and words of wisdom.

 Motorists traveling the busy streets of Anaheim, California are bombarded with signs advertising fast-food meal deals, clothing sales and constantly fluctuating gas prices.

 For years, those passing by Ganahl Lumber's headquarters on Ball road(about 1 mile from Disneyland) have seen a different sign: 12-inch-tall white plastic letters that form a message not to get to your wallet but, instead, to appeal to your mind.

 "A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well," or another: "He who buys what he does not need steals from himself."

 Not what you might expect to see in front of a company-in business, after all, of making money. "The idea is to bring inspiration, a smile or create a lighthearted moment in people's day," saided Peter Ganahl, CEO of lumberyard  and hardware store company, family owned since 1884.

 The 24-foot-long by 8-foot-high sign has been the same since 1978, when Ganahl moved to 1220 E. Ball Road( approx. 3/4 of a mile from Mr Stox), also the home to the company headquarters.

 Ganahl considered up-dating the sign to an electronic version when the store was remodeled a few years ago, but city officials said no deal. Turns out the sign no longer conforms to city standards- too big: but it's been grandfathered in because it predates current codes. Any changes to the sign and it would have to come down for a smaller one.

 Of the lumber company's nine locations around Southern California, Anaheim is the only site to maintain a reader board.

 Every two weeks, the message is changed, usually on Fridays. From customers to employee's to on line searches, even bumper stickers, this is were those sayings come to be. The only other messages that go up now are to notify the public of the rare "closed for inventory'" days or periodic blood drives. No messages have ever been repeated.

 Often the messages are themed for holidays or events around town- the start of Angels baseball (Angel stadium is approx. 2 miles) ,or to motivate marathon runners on a course winding by Ganahl Lumber.

Ganahl Lumber had a message," Knowledge talks, Wisdom listens."

 In closing, the one message I really liked was for New Year's Day....."Drive hammered. Get nailed!!!"


Driving to work at Club 33 or Mr Stox,I would drive by Ganahl Lumber and read their messages...Dr Lee