By Alyse Horn

It’s taken some time, about five years to be exact, but this month Troy Hill was able to install the 10′ x 12′ “Welcome To Troy Hill” glass mosaic sign located on Vinial Street across from Penn Brewery.

The ribbon cutting took place on Tuesday, November 22 and Troy Hill Citizens Treasure Tony Benvin led the ceremony. The sign was created by James Simon who also created the “Welcome To Uptown” sign, the monument honoring fallen police officers in Bloomfield and the Liberty Avenue Musicians downtown. Benvin commented that Simon’s work is “known around the country and the world.”

“We are pleased and proud to have one of his works to be the entrance to our community,” Benvin said.

The project was headed by Troy Hill Citizens, the non-profit neighborhood community group, and funded by the H J Heinz Co. though a Neighborhood Partnership Program tax credit donation administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Troy Hill Citizens was assisted in the project by the Northside Leadership Conference.

The design phase included community input and ideas, and the project involved the individual setting of  each small glass tile over many hours.  Installation of the work was delayed until completion of PENNDOT’s Route 28 reconstruction.