Remaining murals set to be placed
The Butler County Historical Society has hired a local sign business to begin hanging the remaining Walldog murals. All will be put in place by the end of May.
Last summer The Walldogs, an international group of muralists, came to the city.
The group made 10 murals in total, including six that were painted directly on building walls and four that were done on large mural boards. The latter four have not been seen by the public since they were done.
“The sign hanger plans to start hanging them later this week,” said Pat Collins, executive director of the historical society. “All four should be hung by the end of May.”
Collins said she has a few more details to work out, but all the necessary permissions have been granted and locations picked.
“One is going on the west facing wall at 123 W. New Castle St.,” she said. “That is the Bantam Jeep Mural. It is sponsored by the Circle of Swords Gaming Guild.”
Others will be featured at 204 N. Main St., 226 N. Main St. and at the new historical society building at 123 W. Diamond St., directly behind their current structure.
NexTier Bank also helped sponsor a mural and the Friends of the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival contributed funds to help pay for their hanging.
Collins said the society also plans to add historical information related to each mural on its website, www.butlerhistory.com.
“On the sponsor plaques they’ll have a QR code so you can shoot it with your phone and it will take you to the historical information,” she said. “These things (murals) were made to educate and connect people with their history.”
Interested residents will need to keep their eyes peeled as there will be no ceremony to accompany for the mural hangings.
The murals will be hung by Signs by Rick, a Butler-based sign company.
“We’re keeping it local. My whole thing is ‘Go Butler!’” Collins said. “If we are going to pay for something, the money should go to someone in the community.”
Signs by Rick owner Mark Davanzati said he plans to put up the first mural at the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival building on Wednesday.
“I’m trying to get them done in the next two weeks.”
Anyone who would like to get involved and volunteer with the Butler County Historical Society can contact it through the organization’s website or at its office at 123 W. Diamond St.
For more information visit butlerhistory.com.