Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 38

The Signs Point the At Every Busy Corr Photos by BOB BART Text by STANLEY M. ROEDER more success you have, the more relatives." "For success try aspiration, inspiration and perspiration." "A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds." WHILE most of the sayings are humorous, most also have a message to convey. In all there are 170 such axioms not all within easy sight from the roadway painted, "at some expense" on various warehouses and farm buildings along the route. Tliey are a project of Earl L. Erdner, a middle-aged, energetic man who prides himself on his signs and his successful can house brokerage.

"I first got the idea about 12 years ago when driving through upstate Pennsylvania," Erdner said. "Ever since then, I've Ixh'ii picking them up from IxKiks and magazines and friends. "Recently, I got 10 new ones in a letter from a woman in North Jersey," he said. "THE SAYINGS help dress up the plain whiteness of the buildings, and I hope they also give some inspiration to people passing by." Some quotations are slanted toward making the reader aware of what it takes to be a success. For example: "Rather put your shoulder to the wheel than your back to lite wall." OTHERS may help to break a spell of melancholy.

"Good judgment conies from experience, and experience, well, that comes from poor judgment." Yet others are along the lines of Erdner's personal philosophy. "Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." DRIVING north out of the small rural community of Woodstown on Route 45, the traveler is suddenly attracted by bold, black, Old English lettering on startlingly white buildings. "You can't have rosy thoughts about the future when your mind is full of blues about the past," reads the first quotation to come into sight. Just above the quotation, large red letters proclaim the building to be "Erdner's Warehouse No. 16." IMMEDIATELY past the warehouse, another sign designates the beginning of the Busy Corner Ranch, and on the left of the road, a complex of more white warehouses comes into view, each adorned with that same Old English lettering, spelling out axioms in traditional Pennsylvania Dutch style.

"Success is relative the Li-Hi i S.V.4KT DESIGN and meticulous care oj all Erdner's property is evident in view oj Busy Corner "jarm" No. 1 where Erdner lives in W'oodstown. mm mi i.mm.i mm tommm mim ihhi.iii gmms JItP'V 1 11 It RED AND WHITE Cadillac with sterling silver horse mounted on hood attests to Erdner's business success. "The horse was a git," he explains. "I had to work jor the rest." iihuh.iiiiiw;".hiwct SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT YOU HAVE TO i AT IT 7 JEX EMBLEM displayed on all Busy Corner buildings is "only jor dress," says Erdner who confesses he does not know its meaning.

WAGON WHEEL stands sentry at Busy Corner Ranch entrance. Warehouse is one oj jirst Erdner had built. COLD STORAGE warehouse is one oj sub-zero buildings used to store jrozen packages..