Restored sign rekindles New Philadelphia landmark’s glow

A once prominent business sign in New Philadelphia, dark for some 60 years, is again lighting the way to Stevenson Memorials on East High Avenue. The building, owned since 2013 by the Steckman family, has seen customers and visitors since the 1920s. 

“We really wanted to do some restoration work on the building,” said Dustyn Steckman, son of owner Scott Steckman. “The main thing we really wanted to address was that lighted sign at the front. We are really trying to keep the classic look of the building that people are so used to seeing, but it needed a refresh to look nicer overall.” 

Steckman said it was important that the finished, restored storefront remain something that fits in with the city’s history. “New Phila. Is certainly a nostalgic, traditional looking old town. The kind of place that makes a lot of memories when you grow up here. We wanted to keep that classic look and not change things too much.”

Similarly, Steckman Memorials of Pennsylvania and Stevenson Memorials were founded in 1921 and 1928, respectively, making them a good match when the new family bought the business. 

The building has also been treated to a new roof, siding and some much needed new signage. “It all just needed freshening up,” said Steckman, “while maintaining the feel of belonging in New Phila. for generations.” 

Steckman said the company takes pride in creating, etching and carving all markers in house, using stone sourced in the United States whenever possible. “We can supply any color you want, any engraving, any kind of lettering. There are only certain types of granite that can be sourced in the U.S.A., and some have to be supplied from elsewhere because that’s simply where that stone is to be found. You can get gray granite here and overseas but we only source it from here.” 

Steckman Memorials has expanded its reach by buying established businesses when they become available. “This is not the kind of business that you just start up,” Steckman said. “Unless you’ve grown up in the memorial business, you’re not going to come into it cold. Many times, third or fourth generations of a family in the memorial business just don’t have any interest in continuing, and that’s how we’ve managed to grow.” Steckman now owns memorial companies in East Liverpool, New Philadelphia, and a location in Florida. 

The sign was repaired and illuminated by Nate Hawkins of Dover, a process which took more than six months. “We probably spoke about doing this in late January this year. Then he got going with the restoration in about May. So it took some time to do it right," Steckman said. "Getting that sign lit again was a priority almost from the the day we bought the business. It took some time to find the right person who was able to take on that kind of work.” 

The sign was relit for the first time in decades in mid-October. Steckman said people have already stopped by to admire the restoration.

“Businesses here seem to take special pride in the community and maintaining its classic character,” he said. “We wanted to maintain that and make sure the storefront is set for another hundred years of being a part of New Philadelphia.“

Stevenson Memorials is at 1106 E. High Ave. Find them online at stevensonememorials.net.