Sign has flair from Spokane’s world’s fair

 A historic sign with its roots in Expo ’74 was recently installed at Hite Crane and Rigging’s new location at 17515 E. Appleway. The concrete sign was created by local artist Harold Balazs for Expo ’74 as part of a large sculpture that still stands by the Spokane Opera House on the shore of the Spokane River. Hite Crane was hired to lift the sculpture into place and at the last minute Balazs decided not to make it as tall as he originally planned.

 “He planned it to go one row higher but was worried about the stability,” said Ed Hite. “He gave us a piece and we were tickled.”

 Hite also salvaged letters from the old Northern Pacific Railway depot that was being demolished to make way for Expo ’74. He mounted the letters, which have now been bronzed, on the section of sculpture Balazs donated to create a sign that has stood ever since.