Colonnes Morris

Generally speaking, there are two kinds of people in the world.  One kind thinks change is bad.  The thinks change is good.

Marie-Chantal is definitely a "change-is-bad" kind of person.  Here is a case in point. 

A while ago, Marie-Chantal read in the newspaper that the City of Paris is replacing all of its vintage advertising kiosks, like the one pictured below.  Instead, modern electronic advertising signs will replace the traditional ones, known as colonnes Morris.

A colonne Morris

The colonnes Morris first appeared in Paris in 1868.  Previously, there had been different type of kiosk in Paris, one that included both a public urinal and a place for posting advertisements of all sorts.  The original thinking was let's stop the mischief of graffiti from defacing buildings.  Gabriel Morris received the advertising concession and erected his columns all over Paris.  Below is a very old version of the colonne Morris. 

Fast forward to 2019, and the City of Paris has decided to modernize its advertising signs with electronic screens and with advertising that changes by rolling up and down.  (The electronic screens also broadcast warnings to the public, like dangerously high temperatures during the summer heat waves.)  New examples are below.

While modernization can be good, losing pieces of history is a sad sight.

Thanks for remembering colonnes Morris with us.