Watch CBS News

Sign Ripped Away From New Jersey Home During Sandy Washes Up On French Beach

Follow CBSPHILLY Facebook  | Twitter

BRIELLE, N.J. (CBS) --  A sign ripped away from a waterfront home in New Jersey during Superstorm Sandy wound up nearly 4,000 miles away in France five years later.

New Jersey real estate company Diane Turton, Realtors, who has offices across Monmouth and Ocean Counties, says they were contacted on May 18 by a man in France, claiming that one of their double-sided signs washed up on the beach in Bordeaux.

"We thought it was a joke at first," said Perry Beneduce, marketing director at Diane Turton, Realtors.

Beneduce tells CBS Philly that he and his team vetted the claim for weeks, and later received six photos from Hannes Frank.

It's easy to question how it wound up across the Atlantic Ocean but Beneduce says it's in fact true.

According to Beneduce, the sign was ripped away from a waterfront home at 608 Cedarcrest Drive in Brielle, New Jersey. They have an office in Wall Township and the sign shares the same number to that office: 732-292-1400.

He says right after Sandy the company changed the design of their signs.

"Having our signage wash up in France on the beach, truly proves that Diane Turton, Realtors is a global real estate company," Beneduce said.

The sign will travel back to New Jersey, this time via an airplane.

The company says they plan to frame the sign.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.