Too Late to Look for the Spear
A pack of Wrigley’s Spearmint gum could relieve fatigue for just a nickel, but no longer, as a new Marriott hotel in downtown Austin has already encased an iconic wall mural in steel. The Congress Avenue landmark wall that featured ads for Joseph’s menswear and Wrigley’s gum remains, with just a few feet between it and the Marriott’s windowless north wall, so it’s all but hidden from view—forever. The flavor may last, but now, it’s too late to look for the Spear.
Ironically, or perhaps not, Joseph’s was featured in the Vanishing Austin Endangered Species of Austin poster in 2009, along with 15 other Austin landmarks. Nine of those featured have either disappeared or relocated due to development. ♣
BUY A PRINT: Choose from 99+ Vanishing Austin prints and a poster by Jann Alexander, starting at $25.
Shop my Vanishing Austin series: While many Austin landmarks are lost, many are survivors still. Admire them all in a slideshow, HERE. Prints start at $35.
Marvel at what’s lost and what’s survived in my Endangered Species of Austin poster, featuring 16 Austin icons, and sized at a handsomely large 24 x 36,” available for $25, HERE.
- How the Vanishing Austin project began
- The 99+ photographs in the Vanishing Austin series
- More articles in Vanishing Austin blog series
- The Endangered Species of Austin
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You’re right I could relax and pass the time with a 5 cent pack of gum. Now that same small bit of relaxation will cost $249.00 a night.
Very interesting. Well, it seems as though this is happening all over the place. It would have been cool if they worked that wall into the design somehow. It would have been an amazing feature wall on the inside of the hotel.
Wouldn’t it? But that would have required corporate America to care about local Austin. That wasn’t about to happen when that Marriott first came to town blew away the long-standing local businesses. Thanks for taking a look.
I suppose you’re right, but it’s nice to care about something some of the time.