A sign of the 'maritimes'

Nowadays many people are praying for a sign.

Dick Franyo's prayer was answered in mid-December, not by a higher authority, but by a local antiques dealer who gave him the sign he'd been looking for since he opened the Boatyard Bar and Grill in Eastport in 2001.

Boatyard patrons know that Mr. Franyo has made it a habit to collect signs. Several of these artifacts hang from the beams and walls of his dining establishment on Fourth Street.

And his newest acquisition is an original Trumpy boatyard sign that hailed the arrival of John Trumpy and Sons, a renowned yacht-building business, to Spa Creek, two years after the end of World War II.

With the gold-leafed Trumpy sign in his possession, Mr. Franyo's walls showcase that and others from Arnie Gay, Sarles, Patrinis and Annapolis Harbor - all historic Eastport boatyards. He also proudly displays the original Anglers Sport Center sign and others from Weems and Plath and Fawcett Boat Supplies.

The Trumpy sign, however, has won its place as the first treasure in Mr. Franyo's trove he has actually had to purchase.

"I was sitting in a board meeting, and a fella told me he had seen the Trumpy sign in an antique store right out by Route 2 on West Street," Mr. Franyo said. "So I went down there and bargained a bit."

He said he wished for the "bargain" price to remain his little secret.

Then he wanted to know for sure that he had an authentic Trumpy original. It turned out that the sign was actually signed.

" 'Mealy signs' was written on it, and they're (located) like three blocks down (from the restaurant)," he said. "I went down there, and this fella said, 'This is my dad's logo, and I know this is my dad's work.' "

Mr. Franyo said he isn't just collecting signs, he's collecting stories.

When he got his hands on an original Anglers Sport Center sign, it was after he had asked current owner Charlie Ebersberger if he knew the whereabouts of the old sign. Just as Mr. Ebersberger was about to say, "No," Mr. Franyo said, another employee knew exactly where it could be found.

It was nailed down to a beam as a makeshift floor for the attic, he said.

Though many are reluctant to part with the memorabilia, Mr. Franyo said he believes many have helped him grow his collection because they feel more of the community will be able to appreciate the antiquities in his restaurant where they can be openly displayed. Some of his signs are on loan from the families of the former boatyard owners, he said.

Jeff Holland, the director of the Annapolis Maritime Museum, said he's eager to see the new Trumpy sign in Mr. Franyo's restaurant. The Trumpy name is still highly regarded among yacht enthusiasts, he said, with each vessel a dazzling "jewel of the sea."

"His restaurant is almost like a museum when you see all the wonderful signs and artifacts that he's collected," Mr. Holland said. "Things that are really iconic for the maritime heritage of the area."