The Gresham Historical Society has begun a fundraising campaign to repair and restore a pair of beloved signs.
The 70-year-old former Polar King “mouse-bear” figures were taken down from the restaurant in May due to significant weathering and decay. Saving them from a destiny in the dumpster, the Historical Society salvaged the plywood pieces.
But now significant work is needed to restore their original paint coating as well as reinforce the plywood and metal structure.
The Historical Society has set a fundraising goal of $10,000 it wants to reach by the end of the year. The money will be used to hire conservators to restore the pieces. You can donate online at greshamhistorical.org/save-the-polar-king-signs.
“The Polar King signs are an iconic feature of our community, and we want to keep them that way,” the organization wrote.
If the project is completed, they believe the signs will last another 70 years or more.
The Polar King Restaurant has been serving diner food and ice cream cones since 1952, when drive-ins and movie theaters dominated Powell Boulevard. It was a popular place to get fries and a burger after a long day picking berries, or a soft drink while cruising with friends. Atop the business was the iconic sign of a cartoon animal holding a cone and wearing a crown.
But the decades sitting atop the restaurant, which is still serving food today, left the figures in a poor state — there are two, with each adorning either side of the sign. The paint was peeling and the wood was decaying.
A board member for the Gresham Historical Society noticed they were missing and asked if they could be taken. A local business supported the cause by temporarily storing the signs while a plan was formulated.
The ultimate goal is to restore the figures and permanently display them somewhere outdoors.
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