Fourth Leahy Sign Caps ‘Welcome To Avalon’ Series
Posted August 31st 2026
You might have noticed over Labor Day weekend that the fourth and final version of Jim Leahy’s iconic “Welcome to Avalon” signs has been posted on Avalon Boulevard.
The series began in January with the first of four signs created by Leahy, a local sign maker responsible for much of the signage seen on businesses and public facilities throughout Avalon and Stone Harbor from the 1950s through the 1980s. His distinctive “Leahy” signature was instantly recognizable and remains familiar to many people more than four decades after his passing.
The program is presented this year by the Avalon Historical Society, Borough of Avalon, Avalon Free Public Library and Avalon History Center. As each sign was posted along Avalon Boulevard, a limited-edition, numbered collector’s card depicting the sign has been offered free of charge at the Avalon History Center. The fourth card is now available, along with earlier versions while supplies last. Cards are limited to one per person.
The fourth and final sign, circa 1982, is believed to be Leahy’s last hand-painted welcome sign after nearly 50 years of creating signs for the community.
According to local lore, a panel of Cape May County mayors visited municipalities in the early 1980s and offered suggestions for enhancing their appearance and appeal to visitors. The panel reportedly encouraged Avalon to elevate its welcome signage by embracing sandblasted signs, a relatively new and popular style at the time.
The change marked the end of an era. For nearly five decades, Leahy’s work had welcomed generations of residents and visitors to Avalon and Stone Harbor. Today, those familiar signs continue to hold a special place in the memories of longtime visitors to Seven Mile Beach.
Celebrate the life and contributions of Jim Leahy with a visit to the Avalon History Center on 39th Street. Pick up the final limited-edition collector’s card, or add any remaining earlier versions to your collection while supplies last. |
