EASTHAMPTON — Paint is cracking off the wood. The image of the city’s iconic waterscape of the Nashwannuck Pond with Mount Tom in the background is fading and peeling. The words “Welcome to Easthampton” do not shine as bright as they used to.
For nearly 18 years, the four signs welcoming those who enter the city have weathered through rain and snow.
This year, the signs may be in for a touch up. Twenty-year resident Patrick Brough has created a GoFundMe page to raise money to refurbish the signs and add solar lighting to illuminate them at night.
“They just need some tender loving care,” Brough said.
The campaign launched Tuesday with a goal of $7,500. By the end of the work day, more than $800 was raised. He said he hopes to have the project done by the winter.
The signs were designed and created in 1999 by Sherid Adams and assisted by Keith Brick. Adams, who worked for Sign Grafx at the time, painted by hand the autumn scene of the pond and Mount Tom on each sign. He said he built the signs from the ground up.
“It is a favorite in Easthampton,” Adams said of the waterscape.
The signs are a New England style, based on tavern signs in Europe, Adams said. The letters are Roman text, Adams said, because it is the most readable. Adams said “Welcome to Easthampton” is designed to be read instantly and clearly by people driving by.
The sign itself will last 100 years, but the paint will age and must be touched up, Adams said.
“The signs are made of redwood and that means they will last forever,” said Adams, who now owns Adams Signs in Leeds.
The signs aged gracefully over the first five years, Adams said, but then began to get worse. Adams said he approached the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce a few times in the past, asking to refurbish the signs.
“Now they have aged too far and now they need my touch,” Adams said.
Adams said he and Brick plan to refurbish the Easthampton signs, sanding them down, hand painting the wood, touching up the 23-karat gold lettering and freshening up the waterscape.
“It’s a really big deal for me,” Adams said. “I believe I can bring them back to relatively new.”
Brough said the signs are owned by the Chamber of Commerce, but restoring the signs is not in the capital budget. Chamber Executive Director Moe Belliveau said she supports the project.
“It’s our announcement to the world … welcome to the community and we’re glad you’re here,” Belliveau said.
Mayor Karen Cadieux said in an email that she recently reviewed the conditions of the signs with the Department of Public Works and started creating a plan. With Brough’s campaign in the works, Cadieux said she plans on donating.
Those who would like to donate can go to www.gofundme.com/welcome-to-easthampton or drop off a check made payable to the Greater Easthampton Chamber to the chamber office at 33 Union St., or at Finck & Perras Insurance at 6 Campus Lane.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.