Statue returned to its rightful place

  • 2017-07-06
The statue depicting ‘Justice, Strength and Authority, & Law’ has been returned to its spot on top of the Mahoning County Courthouse in Youngstown.

The statue—which is of three figures—was lifted by crane in late June, 2017, after having been under repair for several months. However, before that, it was left at ground level for a short time so people could get a close look.

The repairs were begun because parts of the courthouse were failing and dropping to the ground. The support structure for the statue also became unstable, to the point it was feared the artwork, which weighs 2,200lb and was first put on the building in 1909, would also fall.

The statue was first taken down in 2010 after it became discolored, and its base collapsed. It was then shipped to Oberlin, Ohio, where it was restored and the discoloration removed, so that it is now a rich green color. The restoration effort cost $70,000, but the city felt it was warranted, since replacing the statues entirely would have cost $500,000.

Elizabeth Corbin Murphy, an Historic Architect, said she expected the statue will remain green for some time, since Youngstown's air is much cleaner than it used to be. David Ditzler, Mahoning County Commissioner, noted that the statue is part of the city's history, and returning it to its original position is an important undertaking.

Efforts like this can benefit if officials create Brochures about the history of the city and the statue.

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