The old sign above the Swifts Beach Improvement Association building was initially erected around World War II. With an influx of new members and new responsibilities for the association, residents recognized a need for a change, and came together to create a fresh, new sign while preserving their past.

According to Ray Davies, treasurer of the Swifts Beach Improvement Association, the building at 38 Pleasant St. was given to the association by a resident around 1945 and the sign has been up since at least then.

Lee Zanellato, the Swifts Beach resident who created the new sign, said he spoke with someone who has lived in Swift's Beach since 1944 and told him the sign has been up since 1942.

Davies said the dilapidated sign was very old fashioned and he particularly dislike the "I" in the SBIA letters.

"It looked kind of weak and funny, like a bowling pin," he said.

Davies has lived in Swifts Beach with his wife Janet, who is the secretary of the association, since 1999. He said that for years, the backbone of the association was Herbert and Betty Voss, who lived and owned businesses in Swifts Beach for decades. Both Herbert and Betty passed away in the last few years, and Davies said the association is renaming the inside of its building, "Voss Hall."

With this changing of the guard in addition to the flock of new members joining the association, Davies said it was time for a new sign above the building.

Zanellato moved to Swifts Beach six years ago. He said he pitched the idea of a new sign to the heads of the association years ago but it never gained any traction until recently. He said it was the Vosses who helped him become known as a handyman around the area and led to him being asked to create the new sign.

"Lee is very artistic and has done a lot things around Swifts Beach," said Davies.

Zanellato is well known for his intricate model ships, and he said the wavy, uneven way old wooden ships were washed inspired him in creating this sign.

The green and sandy coloring and the illustrations of grass on the sign indicate the association's new responsibilities of beach cleanup and green space maintenance in Swifts Beach. The sign is also adorned with two large starfish and numerous seashells, which Zanellato said he obtained from different people throughout Swifts Beach, making it a true community effort.

"I was so amazed when I saw it," said Davies, who decided to give the sign an official unveiling on Saturday, July 5. "The sign catches your eye now when you go by."

Davies said the association didn't want to destroy the old sign but were unsure if it should be auctioned off or preserved it inside of the building. But he said Zanellato had the idea to just put the new sign up over the old one, protecting it from the elements and creating a type of time capsule.

"People forget what the past was like," Davies said. "When the building comes down in 10 or 50 years the old sign will be there."