A treasured piece of Airdrie’s history has been preserved, with the iconic sign from the former Orrs Department Store now on display for the public to view in the foyer of Airdrie Library. The sign, a symbol of the store that served the community for nearly 150 years, has been saved as part of efforts to preserve the town’s heritage.
Council leader Jim Logue, who was instrumental in the recent redevelopment of the Orrs site, said: “The Orrs store was an integral part of Airdrie’s history, and I’m delighted we’ve been able to preserve part of its legacy in this way. The sign is a reminder of the town’s past, and it’s important that the community now has a chance to come and see it as part of our efforts to honour local history.”
Airdrie-born resident William Whyte, who helped secure the preservation of the sign, added: "There’s so much changing in the town over recent years that I feel it’s important we must preserve as much of Airdrie’s physical past as we can for future generations to come. It’s good to see that the council has preserved the sign, and there are a few other items that have been saved too, anybody interested in their local history should come down to the library and take a look.”
The redevelopment of the Orrs site, which now features 20 new homes and commercial spaces, marks a major step in the town’s ongoing regeneration. Residents are being encouraged to visit Airdrie Library and view this unique piece of local history.