Does anyone out there remember Stewart, the sign painter? I think of him every time I ride my bike past where he once had his shop on Yale.
He had an old Studebaker pickup truck which was in very good condition. I think it had a copper-colored paint job. He painted a sign for me once but I never got to know him very well.
He told me that he painted western scenes that he sold. I took it to mean cowboys, Indians and horses…that kind of stuff. Someone else, might have been Al Greathouse, told me that he got a good price for his art. I remember he was in the habit of calling folks, caballero, I think.
I either read or heard that he died after slipping and falling on an icy sidewalk while he was walking his dog. This may have happened in the early 1980s.
I would truly like to find images of his paintings to add to my Maplewood History archive.
Doug Houser September 10, 2022
I remember Stewart’s pickup having a white grille similar to this 1957 one that I found on the internet. Only his body was a copper color
This is the sign that Mr. Stewart painted for me about 1980. It was located on Sutton where Strange Donuts is located today.
His signature on the sign above. I could find no mention of his business on Newspapers.com.
Tex Stewart’s sign shop, Stewart Signs, was in a little two-unit building on the west side of Yale Avenue, just north of High Street. There was a confectionery in the other unit, to the north. I would buy a soda at the confectionery and then sit in Mr. Stewart’s doorway and watch him hand-paint signs. He painted signs on wood and also painted signs on the inside of store windows. His Studebaker pickup truck was always parked in front. He had a big mustache. He was friendly but not very talkative. I saw him at one of the Motorama car shows at the Arena Annex, where he had several of his customized Studebaker cars. He recognized me and said hi. He painted with a small brush in his right hand. In his left hand, he held kind of a wooden pointer that he rested against the surface he was painting, I guess to steady himself.
Kevin, Your memories are very interesting. Thanks for sharing them!
If I am not mistaken, Schmidt Hardware has a sign that he painted. I remember him and his Studebaker in Maplewood in the late 70’s.
Hello, I know this is an old post. I knew Mr. Stewart. I always knew him as Tex Stewart. I lived next door to him until I was 6. His step daughter was my Godmother. I just recently found some things he painted and had in his garage on Moller avenue. They were in my mother’s basement for probably 40 years. I just hung them in my garage. I tracked down 2 of his Studebakers (57 Transtar truck and 58 Packard Hawk) The truck has been repainted, unfortunately. I remember it having a western theme painted on the tailgate. His 58 Packard Hawk still had the hand painted touches he liked to add to his cars.
I love that you still have his signature on the sign.
Hi Tony, Thank you so much for your memories and the knowledge you added about “Tex” Stewart. I would love to have photographs of whatever you have that he painted. Just out of curiosity, how did you track down his vehicles? Thanks for an interesting post.
I remember Mr Stewart, loved his truck, such a nice man, I always wondered what happened to him. He was always in a good mood whenever I talked with him.
I think he had a big mustache if I remember him correctly and had his Stewart Signs painted on the side of his truck almost exactly like the signature on your sign. By the time I knew him he was mostly retired only had the occasional job. He may have advertised in the journal which is not on Newspapers . com
Yes, and we just called him Stewart. He had several Studebaker cars. He was responsible for many of the decorative logo paintings in Maplewood. Stewart also custom painted Dans Triumph motorcycle, adding too much flourish for Dans taste.
I think these are two different people.
You are correct, Mary. I called the Stengel Sign Shop and talked to the owner. There is no connection to the person I’m looking for. Sorry, Scott. I still have the sign that Stewart painted for me. It was for an antique shop that I had for a couple of years. I’ll post Mr. Stewart’s signature above.
I remember him well. He painted many signs around the Mill property. I believe the name was Stengel. His son still runs the sign company and is located in Fenton near my shop. https://stengelsigns.com/
Much thanks, Scott. I’ll get in touch with his son. I remember that his Dad always signed his handiwork, Stewart or maybe it was Stewart Signs. I just assumed that was his last name. Maybe it was his first? I remember him painting the signs that you mentioned…for the Mill End Fabric store once located in the space that now houses The Living Room.