Residents of Silvermine recently unveiled a new ‘Welcome’ sign to their historic and unique neighborhood.
The new ‘Welcome to Silvermine Historic Area’ sign viewed from Silvermine Road. Credit: Catherine Gorey.
The painted blue ‘Welcome to Silvermine Historic Area’ sign near the intersection of Silvermine Avenue and River Road features a swan and has been in place since July 10, officials say.
The sign’s creation and installment was a year in the making, according to Silvermine Community Association president Megan Ferrell, who spearheaded the project and helped with design.
“It took a lot of time to get the proper permits for it,” Ferrell said, as the sign sits on a circle that although maintained by the Silvermine Community Association is under the jurisdiction of the city of Norwalk.
The fundraising for the sign was driven by the neighborhood’s desire for something that represented the community, she said.
“There was a sign there previously that was essentially a vinyl banner on a board,” Ferrell said. “But it was taken down a few years ago. Since then, the neighborhood started asking where the sign was, so the community association paid for this new sign.”
Spanning the towns of Norwalk, New Canaan, and Wilton, Silvermine is connected by a shared history of 18th and 19th century use of the Silvermine River for mills.
After the decline of the mill industry, artists claimed Silvermine, using its old homes for remodeled studios. The neighborhood also houses the Silvermine Arts Center and former Silvermine Tavern, known today as ‘The Inn at GrayBarns.’
The unveiling of the new sign. From left: Peter Viteretto-SCA Board member (half shown), Lucia Rilling, David Pattillo-SCA Board member, Tom Fisher-SCA Board member, Mayor Harry Rilling, Senator Bob Duff, Ed McNamara, Megan Ferrell-SCA Board President, Carrie Rider, Judy Cornier, and Molly Larson-SCA Board member. Credit: Megan Ferrell.
According to Ferrell, who designed the sign’s image of a swan herself, the artwork reflects the distinct neighborhood’s past.
“The swan has been a longtime symbol of Silvermine because there were swans in the mill pond for many, many years,” she said.
“There’s a sign on Route 106 that people loved and was originally hand-painted by artists years ago,” Ferrell said. “So we wanted to reflect that sign so that the new tied together with the old.”
The Association is pleased with the final product, and feedback has been “overwhelmingly positive,” Ferrell said.
“Everyone loves it, I posted it on our SCA social media and everyone is really really happy happy to have it back,” she said.
According to Brandon Miller, an art counselor at Silvermine Arts Center, the sign is “a really nice addition to the neighborhood.”
“It looks great and I like that it incorporates the history of the area,” he said.
Fellow counselor Grace Parker added that “it’s a good spot for the sign too.”
“I drive that street on my way in every morning and there’s always a decent amount of cars,” she said. “So people will definitely see it.”
Jacquie Jeffress, the Association’s vice president of membership, said the sign “is a nice welcome to anyone entering our beautiful neck of the woods.”
“The history of Silvermine is rich and the sign is a piece of that history,” she said.
Nice design everyone.