Heritage commission recommends historic designation for H.D. Lee sign

Restored H.D. Lee sign to feature red letters, LED marquee lights

Historic flour mill sign to change orientation to face Santa Fe Avenue

Private funds and volunteerism fuel H.D. Lee sign restoration

Restored H.D. Lee sign to drop original "2,500 barrels daily" text

Flour mills sign application highlights Salina's industrial history

Heritage commission recommends historic designation for H.D. Lee sign

SALINA, Kan. — The Salina Heritage Commission voted unanimously to recommend historic sign designation for the H.D. Lee Flour Mills Co. sign located at 343 N. Santa Fe Ave. The recommendation now heads to the Salina City Commission for final approval. If adopted by ordinance, the designation will exempt the historic sign from certain modern zoning regulations, clearing the regulatory path for its reinstallation after it was removed for refurbishment in August 2021.

Restored H.D. Lee sign to feature red letters, LED marquee lights

SALINA, Kan. — When the H.D. Lee Flour Mills Co. sign returns to the north downtown Salina skyline, it will feature significant aesthetic upgrades, including red automotive restorative paint and marquee-style light-emitting diode (LED) illumination. Project applicant Travis Young said the red coloring against a white frame was chosen to ensure high daytime visibility. The switch to outdoor LED bulbs will also significantly reduce the dangerous maintenance required to change lights 135 feet in the air.

Historic flour mill sign to change orientation to face Santa Fe Avenue

SALINA, Kan. — The reinstalled H.D. Lee Flour Mills Co. sign will be reoriented by 90 degrees to face north and south, making it readable to modern traffic traveling along Santa Fe Avenue. Originally, the two-sided rectangular sign faced east and west to be viewed by passengers on the adjacent railway. City staff supported the change, noting that adapting the sign's orientation to face the city's principal traffic corridor is a contextual update that does not compromise its historical character.

Private funds and volunteerism fuel H.D. Lee sign restoration

SALINA, Kan. — The extensive restoration of the H.D. Lee Flour Mills Co. sign has been entirely driven by private funds and community volunteer labor. Applicant Travis Young told the Salina Heritage Commission that the project utilized volunteer efforts for everything from structural engineering to electrical work and refurbishing the historic metal letters. Young acknowledged that relying on unpaid labor extended the project's timeline over the past three years but emphasized the community's deep dedication to returning the landmark to the downtown skyline.

Restored H.D. Lee sign to drop original "2,500 barrels daily" text

SALINA, Kan. — The reinstalled H.D. Lee Flour Mills Co. sign will feature two rows of text instead of its original three. The historical bottom row, which read "2,500 barrels daily," is being omitted because many of the century-old metal letters were heavily degraded. Applicant Travis Young explained that viable pieces from the third row were cannibalized to successfully restore the primary lettering. The unused original letters remain in storage with the property owner, BSQUARE LLC.

Flour mills sign application highlights Salina's industrial history

SALINA, Kan. — The application to restore the H.D. Lee Flour Mills Co. sign brought Salina's industrial history into the spotlight at the May 27 Salina Heritage Commission meeting. Founded in 1899 by Henry D. Lee — who also founded the mercantile company that created the Lee Jeans brand — the mill complex was once capable of storing 750,000 bushels of grain. City records show the sign has been a skyline fixture since 1899, marking the city's historic era as one of the largest flour-producing hubs in the region.

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