Century-Old Gold Medal Flour Ad Found During South Minneapolis Home Renovation

George Johnson and his wife are currently updating the siding on their 1915 home in south Minneapolis.

Image: Gold Medal Four Advertisement | Erica Zurek, MPR News

While checking on the project this week, Johnson made an unexpected discovery: a massive Gold Medal Flour advertisement stretched across the entire south-facing wall of the house, hidden under what seemed to be the original lap siding.

“I was absolutely floored,” Johnson said. “People think about buying an old house and will maybe find something cool in the attic or will find some old thing. You never think that there is something secret on my house. So, it was a total shock. It was just a thrill.”

The following morning, crews pulled off the siding on the north side and found the same painted ad—green and red with yellow and black lettering—beneath it.

Johnson is now weighing whether to keep the ads exposed, though he’s concerned about sun damage and moisture affecting the home. He’s also digging deeper to learn how the century-old ad ended up on his house in the first place.