The sign bears an icon resembling the Dorn’s Photo logo.
The business is gone now, and with it, the giant sign in the shape of an old-time bellowed camera. Condos are going up where Daniel Dorn Sr.’s camera and film shop used to be, on Wallace Street.
But the life and work of the lensman, whose movies and photographs documented life in Red Bank from the early 20th century, has been commemorated with a ceremonial renaming of the street to ‘Dorn Way.’
In addition to running a retail store, Dorn took thousands of photos, many of them aerials, of life in Red Bank. He also acquired from other photographers thousands more images preserved as negatives on glass plates.
“Without their dad, we wouldn’t have a pictorial history of Red Bank,” Councilman John Curly said at last night’s borough council, referring to Dorn’s children, Dan Jr. and Kathy Dorn Severini.
The installation of the sign follows action by the council in April. The official name of the street is unchanged.
“It’s an honor to come down that street and see that” sign, Severini, told the council.
Anyone who wants to see the original Dorn's sign can do so by visiting the Fantastic Signs showroom at 351 Shrewsbury Avenue in Red Bank. They were thoughtful enough to preserve it when the building came down. The sign has also been immortalized by legendary local photographer George Tice, in a photograph that once graced the cover of the "Photography in New York" gallery guide. As for the Dorn's collection of photographs, they can still be viewed and purchased by calling Kathy at Dorn's Classic Images. It is an invaluable collection and the Dorn's are well deserving of this honor.
Hi,Just wanted to thank you for the article about "Dorn Way". It was a great honor for our "mom and pop" family business to be in a place of honor right in the heart of Red Bank.(my favorite town of course)Love your website.Also Bob and Liz Mckay rock. Sincerely,
Kathy(Dorn Severini)