‘Iconic in Rock Hill’ Coca-Cola sign damaged by Irma will be repaired

Have no fear, the iconic Rock Hill sign is damaged, but will be fixed.

The Coca-Cola sign, damaged Monday night by winds from Hurricane Irma, has towered for at least six decades above Dave Lyle Boulevard, Oakland Avenue and other streets that no longer exist.

But the sign will be repaired, said Fred Faircloth II, president of Rock Hill Coca-Cola.

“It’s iconic in Rock Hill. We have had several versions of the sign up in that location at least since the 1950s,” Faircloth said Tuesday morning.

The newest version, put up a few years ago, has back lighting for extra visibility, Faircloth said.

“We had a special sign during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and other signs up over the years,” Faircloth said.

The sign for decades has marked the entrance from the east to downtown Rock Hill.

The Herald posted video of the damaged sign after sunrise Tuesday morning and several people who knew Faircloth sent him pictures of the damage.

“People have noticed this morning, for sure,” Faircloth said.

Company workers are inspecting the metal girders and sign.

“As soon as we can check the sign and the building it sits on, we will look at what needs to be done to have it back up,” Faircloth said.

This story was originally published September 12, 2017 at 10:01 AM with the headline "‘Iconic in Rock Hill’ Coca-Cola sign damaged by Irma will be repaired."