We had that exact same thing.
Mine too. It seemed like a way to “bulk out” what was in the stocking (my aunt had knitted me a HUGE stocking, which I suspect my parents didn’t really appreciate) with something relatively healthy and inexpensive compared to all the candy that made up the rest of the filling.
Saturday morning there will be oranges in the stockings and grapefruit on the table. I think that’s how my mom had it as she was growing up in the 40s and 50s.
Around here coal I think.
When I was living circa 1970 in Reading, PA, there was a local brewery that owned or had a permanent lease on three billboards at the main entrances into the town. They were hand-painted and changed about every six months. It’s the only time I saw sign painters at work.
I envy you – we lived about 1500 miles from that granddad, and only saw him maybe five times before he died when I was around 10. Never got to see him do a billboard, though a couple of times he drove us kids out to see some of his work.
Did see him paint an office door once, just a name/profession/office hours. All free hand. He was well into his 60s and had the steadiest hands you could imagine.