Story from WYFF 4
By Stephanie Towers, Digital Media Manager
GAFFNEY, S.C. — Many of you have noticed that the Gaffney peach is undergoing another facelift.The water tower was repainted in 2015 by muralist Eric Henn from Dayton, Ohio.
The paint job was expected to last more than 30 years.
Why is it being done again?
Kim Fortner, the assistant manager of the Gaffney Board of Public Works, said the repainting in 2015 was part of a contract that the city had with Utility Services.
She said the city has worked with Utility Services for about 20 years and the contract included the maintenance of all water tanks in Gaffney.
Fortner said the board was not satisfied with the color of the peach and wanted a “deeper, riper peach color.”
She said board members thought the coloring was “too pale.”
According to Fortner, the board and Utility Services agreed to end the contract with Utility Services over artistic differences.
The board hired Southern Corrosion to take over the project, Fortner said.
She said Southern Corrosion hired the original artist, Peter Fruedenberg, to give the peach the color that the board is seeking.
Fortner said the process of changing contracts and the repainting of the peach has not cost the board any additional money.