Government center finished, decorated with handmade seal
A local artist has put the finishing touches on the Butler County Government Center on West Diamond Street, which has been undergoing a facade renovation for the past year.
In addition to expertly hanging the new letters and numbers that identify the building as the county government center and list the address, Steve Peffer on Sunday used a man lift to raise his handmade, six-foot replica of the Seal of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the top of the large blue badge over the building's front door.
The colorful seal will likely grab the attention of those going about their business 50 feet below on the bricks of West Diamond Street.
Peffer, who grew up on a farm in Harrisville, said the seal is made of high-density urethane foam, which will not expand or contract in the winter's freeze or summer heat like other materials.
“It should last a very, very long time,” Peffer said.
The lifelong artist created the seal by placing a rubber resistant material where the features of the seal would be three dimensional and sandblasting the rest to make the background recessed.
He then carved the eagle, sailing vessel, Indian corn, olive branch, plow and three sheaves of wheat pictured on the seal and used automotive paint to airbrush the features.
“The Pennsylvania seal has designated colors, but I chose the shades,” said Peffer, who sported two streaks of white paint on his cheeks after the project's completion on Sunday.
Peffer then covered the seal in automotive seal coat. He explained that automotive products hold up the longest.
The seal took the experienced sign maker just one week to complete.
He said raising the seal to its place of distinction in his home county was the highlight of his already distinguished career.
“This is the proudest project I've ever done,” Peffer said as he gazed at the seal in Sunday's bright sun.
He has produced creative signs during his career for fitness centers, furniture stores and other businesses as well as lighted billboards in and around the county.
“But this? This is home,” Peffer said.
