Lou’s View

By Lou Bernard

You’ve probably encountered this one, even if you’re not aware of it. How many times have you been in some sort of building, and there’s a carving of fruit near the door? Or some sort of furniture with leaves and flowers carved into it? Can you remember a few examples of that?

Then, congratulations, you’ve just learned that half the country contains secret hidden codes that nobody knows about.

Back in the Victorian times, there was a very ingrained custom. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I learned about this from a Batman comic book. The Victorians would put things—Fruits, trees, leaves, flowers—Into their architecture and design. These things all meant something; they were all symbols meant to convey a message.

We still do it, even if we don’t realize why. If you look at the door to an older, elaborate house, you may find pineapples carved on the doorway someplace. That’s the symbol for “Welcome.” We don’t think much of it now, but back in the 1800s, a pineapple on the door conveyed the message as well as a welcome mat.

Grapes were the symbol for parties and good times, because they’re used to make wine. And I’ve seen them carved in furniture. Have you noticed, every time Thanksgiving rolls around, you see the horn of plenty as a decoration, and there’s always corn? We still use that for decoration, because corn is the symbol for “There’s enough for everyone.” We still do it, even if we don’t understand why. On East Main Street, there’s an old metal hitching post with corn in it—This is meant to send that message.

Along South Fairview Street, there’s a house with a couple of metal posts outside. They have oak leaves carved in them. You’d walk right by it without taking a second look, and plenty of people have. But if you know this code exists and how to research it, you’d be able to figure out what it meant and why.

Oak is the symbol for power. Anything with an oak leaf on it is meant to depict something powerful. And the house I’m talking about was once a parsonage for a local church. In a place that worships God, they wanted the symbol for power right outside, so people knew where to go.

This stuff is everywhere, once you learn to look for it.

One of the best local examples is the door to the Lock Haven Post Office.

Several years ago, I was looking for something new to include on a tour. I walked downtown and checked out all the buildings, trying to come up with ideas for anything new and different. I stopped in front of the post office, built in 1919, and considered things.

And then I looked up.

Above the door to the post office is a carved decoration. I stared at it for a while, probably causing several people to wonder what the hell I was doing. I could make out walnuts and pinecones up there, pretty clearly, and I thought about this Victorian secret code.

Then I ran back to my desk and looked up what it meant.

The walnut is the symbol for trust. That’s meant to convey someone trustworthy. And the pinecone, because it gives off little seeds with wings, means “messenger.” And I was amazed at how perfectly it all fit together. Above the door to the post office: Trustworthy messengers.

This code is everywhere, once you know how to look for it. We still use it all the time, without even knowing why. So if you’re looking for some excitement in your life, some little secret….Just look around you, and there it is.