Found this in daily heights posted by SheJess. Makes sense to me::
March 20, 2006
Sherita is actually a misspelling for “She Rita,” for starters. Short for, “This is Rita, the brontosaur, and our faithful promotoer of heating fuel. Come on by, check out our rates!” As everyone knows, fuels, especially ‘fossil’ fuels, come from the deceased likes of our pink friend, here.
Hi Anne! Any update on Sherita? I somehow never saw this billboard until recently. I posted it on Instagram and it that led me to you! My IG is vintage_imageNY to check it out. There’s also an older picture of the sign with what I would guess is the original heating oil company business occupying the building. I did a search for Sherita hashtags and it surfaced. Let’s pic up the trail and figure this out!
Thanks for the Sherita deep dive! Just came across your article after pointing her out to a friend in Prospect Heights who had surprisingly never noticed her watchful eyes until then. I've found her a fascinating character throughout the 20ish years here in Brooklyn, and always wondered about her origin story. Having recently moved around the corner from that intersection, it brings me a certain comfort to now claim her as a neighborhood protectorate.
Pre-graffiti with more clarity than the 2015 pic, but still fairly weathered. The corner storefront is still that of the Home Heating Oil company, before the flat fix shop took over the entire building.
Also curious: the top left panel was missing in the 2015 pic, but had been replaced by the time the graffiti pic was taken. Wonder if whoever made the fix could fill in some details.
That is a great photo of our Sherita in better days. And its also cool to see the Home Heating Oil shop. I love that it was actually called "Home Heating Oil." Thank you David!
Any thoughts on how I could track down who repaired the sign?
Good question... can't say I have any great ideas beyond the work you did already, especially if nothing really came of talking with people connected with Home Heating Oil. I'll try to ask some of the folks on the block who have been here forever, see if anyone has any good insights!
Thank you for attempting to solve this mystery! I've been so curious about Sherita for so long. The only information I can add to your investigation is that I checked the 1940 and 1980 tax photos of the address and she did not yet exist in either. She must have been born sometime after 1980.
Anne I can’t thank you enough for researching Sherita I knew you were the right person for the job! I had no idea she was a dinosaur or what the whole sign used to look like so that’s part of the mystery uncovered at least, and I look forward to any more details you unearth!
I wish the Mayor of New York was the governor of Florida. Sigh. And I will spend the rest of the day wondering why Cars Vs. Giant Bulge made me laugh so hard.
Amy! Same here with the wondering! I literally laughed so hard that I cried and my stomach hurt. Which made no sense. I think maybe it was the idea of whoever made it putting so much effort into it, and for what? To what end? So bonkers.
Fun as usual. My favorite part of the Sherita investigation is the stock photos of people smiling quitel earenestly, apparently because there is a great fuel oil opportunity. I imagine the child is asking, "Father, where does snow come from?" -- as for your Mayor, I posit that he is modelling Vegas boxing promoters, ala Don King with that tuxedo.
The Sherita mystery is incredible! I know we don't have an answer yet, but I'm loving the journey. You're working local sources (shout out to Nut Truck!), online searches, and most of all doing the legwork. This is really good stuff! I don't know if this helps, but if the sign has been there "forever," maybe there's a Brooklyn historian who can shed some light on this mystery. Alternatively, you might consider tweeting this mystery to Eric Adams. He's a cop and weirdo, so this case seems right up his alley.
My two cents: Maybe write a snail mail letter to Mr Thomas at his home address. He must be old (like me) and would take a hand-written letter more seriously than a phone call or email. Include the picture of the sign too. That will also show you are serious.
RIP Sherita https://www.reddit.com/r/Brooklyn/comments/1c4pb9l/sherita_has_been_painted_over_rip_sherita_a/
Found this in daily heights posted by SheJess. Makes sense to me::
March 20, 2006
Sherita is actually a misspelling for “She Rita,” for starters. Short for, “This is Rita, the brontosaur, and our faithful promotoer of heating fuel. Come on by, check out our rates!” As everyone knows, fuels, especially ‘fossil’ fuels, come from the deceased likes of our pink friend, here.
Hi Anne! Any update on Sherita? I somehow never saw this billboard until recently. I posted it on Instagram and it that led me to you! My IG is vintage_imageNY to check it out. There’s also an older picture of the sign with what I would guess is the original heating oil company business occupying the building. I did a search for Sherita hashtags and it surfaced. Let’s pic up the trail and figure this out!
Thanks for the Sherita deep dive! Just came across your article after pointing her out to a friend in Prospect Heights who had surprisingly never noticed her watchful eyes until then. I've found her a fascinating character throughout the 20ish years here in Brooklyn, and always wondered about her origin story. Having recently moved around the corner from that intersection, it brings me a certain comfort to now claim her as a neighborhood protectorate.
Here's a pic I took of her back in January of 2007: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3gh65vuc2rnd8ut/IMG_0039.JPG?dl=0
Pre-graffiti with more clarity than the 2015 pic, but still fairly weathered. The corner storefront is still that of the Home Heating Oil company, before the flat fix shop took over the entire building.
Also curious: the top left panel was missing in the 2015 pic, but had been replaced by the time the graffiti pic was taken. Wonder if whoever made the fix could fill in some details.
That is a great photo of our Sherita in better days. And its also cool to see the Home Heating Oil shop. I love that it was actually called "Home Heating Oil." Thank you David!
Any thoughts on how I could track down who repaired the sign?
Good question... can't say I have any great ideas beyond the work you did already, especially if nothing really came of talking with people connected with Home Heating Oil. I'll try to ask some of the folks on the block who have been here forever, see if anyone has any good insights!
Oh thank you for stepping up to be a correspondent! It'd be SO GREAT if we could finally crack this case!
Thank you for attempting to solve this mystery! I've been so curious about Sherita for so long. The only information I can add to your investigation is that I checked the 1940 and 1980 tax photos of the address and she did not yet exist in either. She must have been born sometime after 1980.
https://1940s.nyc/map/photo/dof_3_02020_0001
Interesting! Thank you LIza! We'll crack this mystery yet!
I love the "before and afters" in the HHO ad. All of my other thoughts and prayers have been shared by others.
Anne I can’t thank you enough for researching Sherita I knew you were the right person for the job! I had no idea she was a dinosaur or what the whole sign used to look like so that’s part of the mystery uncovered at least, and I look forward to any more details you unearth!
Thanks William! I have another little tidbit coming up in next Monday's issue!
What?!!!! I can’t wait!!!
I wish the Mayor of New York was the governor of Florida. Sigh. And I will spend the rest of the day wondering why Cars Vs. Giant Bulge made me laugh so hard.
Amy! Same here with the wondering! I literally laughed so hard that I cried and my stomach hurt. Which made no sense. I think maybe it was the idea of whoever made it putting so much effort into it, and for what? To what end? So bonkers.
Fun as usual. My favorite part of the Sherita investigation is the stock photos of people smiling quitel earenestly, apparently because there is a great fuel oil opportunity. I imagine the child is asking, "Father, where does snow come from?" -- as for your Mayor, I posit that he is modelling Vegas boxing promoters, ala Don King with that tuxedo.
I'm glad you enjoyed the stock photos as much as I did Mark!
Incredible, how that silly picture uncovered such a story of survival.
There are amazing people all around us. It’s unfortunate that our focus is usually on negative stories instead of stories like this one
That never occurred to me Peter—that the silly search turned up an inspiring tale. Still hoping to find out more...
I agree with Giuliani!
I suspect most New Yorkers do. I just want someone to invite ME to the Met Ball!
THIS IS THE FUCKING STUFF (sic)
So much potty mouth from my financial advisor!
As soon as I saw "Sherita" she reminded me of the art of Florine Stettheimer: https://www.artnews.com/gallery/art-in-america/aia-photos/florine-stettheimer/2-12806/
Tell me what you think?
I see what you mean! Also these painting are wonderful!
Well a collection is in the Brooklyn Museum! Saunter over sometime.
The Sherita mystery is incredible! I know we don't have an answer yet, but I'm loving the journey. You're working local sources (shout out to Nut Truck!), online searches, and most of all doing the legwork. This is really good stuff! I don't know if this helps, but if the sign has been there "forever," maybe there's a Brooklyn historian who can shed some light on this mystery. Alternatively, you might consider tweeting this mystery to Eric Adams. He's a cop and weirdo, so this case seems right up his alley.
OMG your Eric Adams suggestion. So great!
My two cents: Maybe write a snail mail letter to Mr Thomas at his home address. He must be old (like me) and would take a hand-written letter more seriously than a phone call or email. Include the picture of the sign too. That will also show you are serious.
David, this is such an excellent idea and makes a lot of sense. I am going to give it a try. Thank you.
wow. amazing. also: https://ourtimepress.com/an-atlantic-avenue-story/ –– Sherita has been in the press before....
She means so many things to so many people it seems...