What is this sign, and where did it come from?

Well, a very long time ago, probably around 1996 or 1997, our main road was getting closed for some odd reasons. Our road always ended up being the detour, and there would be traffic going 40-55 MPH down our road. We had no speed limit on our street, so...

My late grandmother suggested that I make this sign. The real sign didn't look anything like this, but I made two very cheap looking signs that pretty much said what is shown above. I placed them outside for a while, but no one seemed to take notice.

However sometime in 1997, I saw half a pole outside about 50 feet from where I live. The next thing I knew, I saw a brand new Speed Limit 25 sign going up right outside my window. It remains there to this day untampered with.

Sometimes making points like this can bring out some results from your local public works department.