Louis Capozzoli assesses where to work next on the Pioneer Cooper Cabin muralon Pizza Joe's building on North Main Street. The Walldogs will continueto paint murals in downtown Butler through the weekend. The murals represent parts of Butler's history.

The Walldog muralists adorning various buildings around Butler with works of art depicting historic icons of the city and county drew crowds of observers Thursday, with people saying they liked the additions and hoped they added to the city's culture and legacy.

The Walldogs drew quite a crowd even as rain began to fall early Thursday afternoon.

Deb Kruger, a volunteer working as a site manager and gopher at 123 W. Diamond St., where muralists were painting a depiction of Uncle Billy Smith, said she was pleased with the widespread interest and positive reaction to the painting.

“Until the rain started people were camping out, watching the process and really spending a lot of time,” Kruger said.

Groups of people visited the Butler Historical Society's building on West Diamond Street in the morning Thursday, to get maps showing them the location of the mural work being done throughout the city.

Kruger said she met people from as far away as Pittsburgh who decided to take the day and tour Butler on foot, visiting the mural sites and watching the artists work.

“I'm happy; I think it's nice for the town,” she said.

City residents called the work a positive step for a city that's seen much decay and bad news in recent years.

Alyssa Mainhart, a hair stylist who was out on a walk with her children and friends early Thursday afternoon, said she felt the murals were a breath of fresh air to the city.

“I've lived here since 2010, and I think the city is going downhill, really bad,” Mainhart said. “This will be good — bring some culture back, you know? It's nice to see somebody bringing something positive.”

Samantha King, another city resident, said her children had enjoyed watching and wondering about the murals as they walked around the city Thursday.

“The kids really enjoyed watching it,” she said as the group gazed at a Coca-Cola themed mural at the corner of East Jefferson Street and McKean Street.

The second half of that mural — a “ghost sign” painting that will feature the figure of a girl painting a sign — will include a figure based on Cassandra Seth, an auctioneer who lives in the city and is a close friend of artist Jill Welsh. Welsh is Butler's only mural painter participating in the Walldogs work, said Seth, who will auction off mini paintings of the murals and other Butler novelty signs at a send-off dinner later this week.

She called the murals something that will enrich Butler and, she hopes, memorialize her friend's affection for the city as well.

“It is amazing,” Seth said. “I am so proud of Jill. This is her legacy to a town that she loves.”