GENUINE BULL DURHAM
STANDARD OF THE WORLD
9 East William
There were likely several generations of signs painted on this wall. Beside “Genuine Bull Durham”, you may be able to discern parts of “Coca Cola” and “Sold Everywhere 5¢”. Bull Durham tobacco was manufactured by W. T. Blackwell and Co. in Durham, NC. Blackwell was
among the first companies to implement large-scale advertising. Their outdoor ads started in the late 1870s, with four teams of painters traveling around the states to paint billboards and sides of buildings. The first business documented in city directories at 9 E. William St. was the Delaware Herald newspaper, from approximately 1890 to about 1900. From 1930 until roughly 2000, Independent Print Shop made its home here. Today it is the Upper Cut barbershop.