The Hillcrest Sign

• First erected in 1940
• Gift to community from a group of female shopkeepers
• Taken down for refurbishment in 1983
• Relit at 8pm on August 16, 1984
• 240 feet of pink neon tubing
• Monthly electric cost is $65
• Supporting poles were 75' tall with 35' underground
• Weight is 800 pounds
• 21 feet long
• 3.5 feet tall
• Letters are made of white plastic
• The red metal sign was repainted the night of July 10-11th in 2003

The sign was first supported by large wooden columns which were shortly replaced by steel columns after letters protested their unsightly appearance. City Councilmember Fred Simpson observed during the sign's first year that the wooden poles make the street appear like a "big tree district."

After several years of disrepair and darkness, the sign was taken down for refurbishing on Thursday, June 7, 1984. Two months later on August 16, Gene Coster (Quel Fromage) and local politico Lucy Killea joined Mayor Roger Hedgecock for the relighting celebration. As Hedgecock prepared to pull the switch an unarmed man shouted, "I'm going to kill you. You're not turning the light on." He was removed by police.

A party celebrating the new sign filled the Hillcrest streets lasting for hours. The relighting became the genesis for CityFest.

Two 55-foot poles donated by SDG&E were erected in 1984 and presently support the sign. The lower 15 feet of each pole is sunk into a 3,200 pound cement foundation.

Artist Christopher Lee added finials of glass balls and aluminum cones in 1994 as part of a HBA public art project (note the old poles in the photo at the right).