May 24, 2026
Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
The Madcap Advertisements of Stiles Thomas
Everyone knows Stiles Thomas as ace birder, hawk-watch founder and Celery Farm Marsh Warden Emeritus, but how many know he also had his own insurance agency (In the Flat-Iron Building in center city Allendale), which featured one of the most celebrated advertising campaign's in Allendale history (or so he says.)
Under the assumption that everyone likes a good laugh (or groan), I am showcasing the ads here. (Sometimes you have to read closely.)
The ad in which Stiles claims to be an "insurance and celery broker" is from 1981, the year that Stiles, Mayor Fitz Patrick and their allies saved the Celery Farm.
Near the end are a couple of ads that reflect Stiles' concern for raptors.
The very last one of the bunch is the very first ad, and Stiles played it straight….
10 comments
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Thanks for post these clever blasts from the past. Stiles is one-of-a-kind, a true ‘rara avis’.
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Funny and charming as ever!
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Wow, these are just amazing and so clever!!!
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These are just fantastic! I always knew that Stiles had a sense of humor but I was too young to have seen these ads. One of a kind!
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What a delight to read these clever ads. You can really “feel” Stiles in each one.
Thank you so much for sharing, Jim ! -
Just FAB!
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More people would read ads if they held the promise of a laugh. Thanks for sharing.
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These are hilarious. He must have been independently wealthy to create these ads with such a laissez faire attitude and with such aplomb, lol.
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These are just fantastic. Made my day. 😀
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The best read in a long time. Oh, those days were very special but you never really had to ‘watch’ what you said and when and where. So clever…Thanks so much for sharing.Good, clean fun….
I owned a flat iron, once.





10 comments
Enid
Thanks for post these clever blasts from the past. Stiles is one-of-a-kind, a true ‘rara avis’.
Barbara
Funny and charming as ever!
Stephanie Seymour
Wow, these are just amazing and so clever!!!
Emily McIntosh
These are just fantastic! I always knew that Stiles had a sense of humor but I was too young to have seen these ads. One of a kind!
Nancevoy@optonline.net
What a delight to read these clever ads. You can really “feel” Stiles in each one.
Thank you so much for sharing, Jim !
Deedee Burnside
Just FAB!
Monica
More people would read ads if they held the promise of a laugh. Thanks for sharing.
Marianne Herrmann
These are hilarious. He must have been independently wealthy to create these ads with such a laissez faire attitude and with such aplomb, lol.
julie mccall
These are just fantastic. Made my day. 😀
sallyt.
The best read in a long time. Oh, those days were very special but you never really had to ‘watch’ what you said and when and where. So clever…Thanks so much for sharing.Good, clean fun….
I owned a flat iron, once.