SCHENECTADY — For years, Richard Olson has driven by the large iron sign at the corner of State Street and Washington Avenue that says “Welcome to Schenectady” and has been dismayed at its deteriorating condition.

“It was really an eyesore. It’s such a beautiful sign. I felt it should be really addressed,” he said.

The sign, which features an iron silhouette cutout of the Stockade, was originally erected by the Chamber of Schenectady County in the 1930s. It reads “Welcome to Schenectady — Settled by Arent Van Curler in 1661, Burned by the French and Indians February 8, 1690.”

Olson, who owns Olson Signs in Scotia, reached out to city officials and took on the project at his expense. He scraped, primed and repainted the sign’s iron framework and carved a new wooden sign to place inside. The new sign features the word “Schenectady” in gold lettering with the same text as before.

The project took about two weeks. Olson said he was happy to do the work after all the city has done for him. The business has done signs and banners at Proctors and Freedom Park in Scotia. The family-owned business has been in existence for 60 years and a member of the Chamber of Schenectady County for 20.

On Thursday, city officials saw the newly refurbished sign in Liberty Park after Olson’s son Art pulled off the green cover.

“I love it. It’s fabulous,” said Mayor Brian U. Stratton.

Stratton said the sign has been a shining symbol of Schenectady. There were originally three other signs at three other gateways to the city and this is the only one left.

“They were a sign of class. It was really something that made Schenectady special,” he said.

Stratton called the restoration “a great symbol of our rebirth and rejuvenation.” He said he would like to explore reconstructing the three other signs. He said there may be an opportunity to put a marker in during the Erie Boulevard reconstruction project. The sign could even have a cutout silhouette design of a canal and mule barge. Other locations could be Upper Union Street and the Bellevue neighborhood.

Chamber President Charles Steiner said the new sign will enhance the gateway to the community.

“Sometimes, it’s the small things in a community,” he said.

Other officials like Metroplex Development Authority Ray Gillen said the new sign fits in with the improvements in that section of town including a $20 million student housing project across from Schenectady County Community College.

Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation Executive Director James Salengo said this restoration is a symbol of what is going on in the district.