Trending...
- New Release: 'The Invisible Alternative' Unveiled by Atrisk Corporation, Resilient
- Rx Processing Corp.com The Forth Of July 2025
- From Real Estate to Reel Power: H.L Woods Carves His Legacy as a Cutting-Edge Visionary Filmmaker
A Large
A Medium
A Small
Text Size
City of Akron Press Release
From the desk of Ellen Lander Nischt
Published: 05-28-2020
Akron, Ohio, May 28, 2020 – Mayor Horrigan has released exciting new pictures of the rubber worker statue being crafted by northeast Ohio sculptor, Alan Cottrill. The 12 ft. tall bronze statue will be prominently featured on the newly redeveloped Main Street Corridor, in the center of the roundabout at the corner of Main and Mill Streets. The statue features a rubber worker hand wrapping a tire, and is based on the image on the cover of David Giffels and Steve Love's book "Wheels of Fortune."
"This statue will stand as a lasting testament to the sacrifices of every worker in the tire and rubber industry in Akron," said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. "These men and women—who served as janitors, engineers, office staff, and laborers—became the bedrock of the Akron community, and helped our nation win two World Wars. These workers built and sustained our City for generations, and their stories and legacies live on in us. We are excited to watch this project come together and we look forward to dedicating it in a way that honors their memories."
More on Ohio Pen
The first phase of the Main Street project is still on course to be completed in July 2020, and the statue itself will be fully bronzed by the end of summer. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a slight delay in the delivery of the multi-tiered granite base that the rubber worker statue will sit on, but the City is tentatively planning an unveiling ceremony for early September, which will be designed to meet then-current public health guidelines regarding public gatherings.
"One of the unexpected benefits to the COVID-19 pandemic has been the amount of uninterrupted time I've been able to commit to this project," said sculptor Alan Cottrill. "I've been able to completely focus my creative energy on this historic statue during an equally historic period in time. This statue represents all the men and women who worked in the rubber factories and who helped Akron grow and prosper. I'm looking forward to the unveiling of the final piece which will stand in tribute to them."
To complement the statue, local creative group, Art x Love is leading the Rubber Worker Stories Project. The campaign, founded by Miriam Ray, aims to collect audio/visual stories from Akron's rubber workers and their descendants. They have recorded approximately 50 stories so far. All of the stories will be archived in the University of Akron's Rubber Industry Archives. Excerpts of the stories are being paired with archival footage and will be accessible online and at an interactive kiosk which will be installed in the primary viewing area for the statue. A few short excerpts of these oral histories are being shared today—including: the story of Kevin Robinson, who spoke about his grandfather, Otis Spurling; and the words of Lucille Esposito, who shared memories of her mother, Filomene "Mae" Riccilli.
More on Ohio Pen
The group is selling commemorative bricks that will be placed in the Northeast corner of the roundabout (adjacent to the Akron-Summit County Library) along with a solid granite bench and the interactive kiosk. Proceeds from the bricks will fund the Stories Project, the kiosk and the archiving of this history for future generations. To date, the Rubber Worker Stories Project has sold 300 bricks, and continues to sell more. The commemorative site has capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 engraved bricks, which can continue to be placed over time.
Commemorative bricks are available at a price of $100, which includes engraving of up to 60 characters (3 lines, 20 characters each). Additional sponsorship levels are available. All brick orders received by June 14, 2020 will be installed prior to the statue unveiling.
To learn more about how you can share your story or purchase a commemorative brick, please call 330-238-8588, email [email protected], or visit AkronStories.com.
Finally, the Akron Rubber Worker statue would not be possible without the early support of local partners including Huntington Bank, FirstEnergy, PNC, Akron Children's Hospital, GPD Group, and the Office of Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro.
For further information, contact:
Ellen Lander Nischt
Press Secretary
Phone: 330-375-2325
E-mail: [email protected]
A Medium
A Small
Text Size
City of Akron Press Release
From the desk of Ellen Lander Nischt
Published: 05-28-2020
Akron, Ohio, May 28, 2020 – Mayor Horrigan has released exciting new pictures of the rubber worker statue being crafted by northeast Ohio sculptor, Alan Cottrill. The 12 ft. tall bronze statue will be prominently featured on the newly redeveloped Main Street Corridor, in the center of the roundabout at the corner of Main and Mill Streets. The statue features a rubber worker hand wrapping a tire, and is based on the image on the cover of David Giffels and Steve Love's book "Wheels of Fortune."
"This statue will stand as a lasting testament to the sacrifices of every worker in the tire and rubber industry in Akron," said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. "These men and women—who served as janitors, engineers, office staff, and laborers—became the bedrock of the Akron community, and helped our nation win two World Wars. These workers built and sustained our City for generations, and their stories and legacies live on in us. We are excited to watch this project come together and we look forward to dedicating it in a way that honors their memories."
More on Ohio Pen
- DivX Empowers Media Enthusiasts with Free Expert Guides for Advanced MP4 Management
- 2025 MBMA Student Design Competition Now Open
- Assent Expands Executive Team to Accelerate Global Growth & Innovation
- The World's Largest Green Economic Revolution Emerges as Nature, Tech, and Finance Converge
- Vinnetwork Unveils Decentralized AI Platform with Vinnetwork(VIN) Token to Challenge Tech Giants' Data Monopoly
The first phase of the Main Street project is still on course to be completed in July 2020, and the statue itself will be fully bronzed by the end of summer. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a slight delay in the delivery of the multi-tiered granite base that the rubber worker statue will sit on, but the City is tentatively planning an unveiling ceremony for early September, which will be designed to meet then-current public health guidelines regarding public gatherings.
"One of the unexpected benefits to the COVID-19 pandemic has been the amount of uninterrupted time I've been able to commit to this project," said sculptor Alan Cottrill. "I've been able to completely focus my creative energy on this historic statue during an equally historic period in time. This statue represents all the men and women who worked in the rubber factories and who helped Akron grow and prosper. I'm looking forward to the unveiling of the final piece which will stand in tribute to them."
To complement the statue, local creative group, Art x Love is leading the Rubber Worker Stories Project. The campaign, founded by Miriam Ray, aims to collect audio/visual stories from Akron's rubber workers and their descendants. They have recorded approximately 50 stories so far. All of the stories will be archived in the University of Akron's Rubber Industry Archives. Excerpts of the stories are being paired with archival footage and will be accessible online and at an interactive kiosk which will be installed in the primary viewing area for the statue. A few short excerpts of these oral histories are being shared today—including: the story of Kevin Robinson, who spoke about his grandfather, Otis Spurling; and the words of Lucille Esposito, who shared memories of her mother, Filomene "Mae" Riccilli.
More on Ohio Pen
- Centennial Flyers to Become Colorado's First Launch Customer for All-Electric B23 Energic Aircraft
- Fully Accountable Introduces Interactive Accounting Scorecard to Improve Financial Performance
- Pyro Marketing Opens New Digital Marketing Company in Saint Petersburg to Power Growth for Fitness and Ecommerce Brands
- Dr. John Salerno of Salerno Wellness Introduces Their New Full Body Capsule for Advanced LED Light Therapy Patient Treatments
- Warren County Park District Unveils Bold Strategic Plan to Shape Future of Parks and Green Spaces
The group is selling commemorative bricks that will be placed in the Northeast corner of the roundabout (adjacent to the Akron-Summit County Library) along with a solid granite bench and the interactive kiosk. Proceeds from the bricks will fund the Stories Project, the kiosk and the archiving of this history for future generations. To date, the Rubber Worker Stories Project has sold 300 bricks, and continues to sell more. The commemorative site has capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 engraved bricks, which can continue to be placed over time.
Commemorative bricks are available at a price of $100, which includes engraving of up to 60 characters (3 lines, 20 characters each). Additional sponsorship levels are available. All brick orders received by June 14, 2020 will be installed prior to the statue unveiling.
To learn more about how you can share your story or purchase a commemorative brick, please call 330-238-8588, email [email protected], or visit AkronStories.com.
Finally, the Akron Rubber Worker statue would not be possible without the early support of local partners including Huntington Bank, FirstEnergy, PNC, Akron Children's Hospital, GPD Group, and the Office of Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro.
For further information, contact:
Ellen Lander Nischt
Press Secretary
Phone: 330-375-2325
E-mail: [email protected]
0 Comments
Latest on Ohio Pen
- Paul E. Saperstein Co. Announces Geographic Expansion of Auction Services
- 216 Marketing Launches New Website to Expand Local SEO and Digital Marketing Services
- Florida Broker Bent Danholm Featured in the Daily Mail's U.S. Real Estate Coverage
- Robin Launches Legal Intelligence Platform to solve intelligence gap in Fortune 500 legal teams
- Melissa B. Releases Digitally Independent: Empowering Music Artists with AI and Brand Strategy
- Consumer Accountability Alliance Issues Formal Notice Alleging Proximate Liability for Medical Harm
- Utah Metal Fabricator Titan Forge Builds Momentum with Custom Steel Projects and Spiral Staircases
- Jason Koch: Pioneering the Future of Real Estate Development in New Jersey
- CameraSecurityNow.com Introduces Verkada's AI-Powered Search for Faster, Smarter Footage Analysis
- Bach and Beyond: Cellists Return to the Beach for 2nd Annual Bethany Beach Cellofest
- World-Class, Turnkey Cro Facility Available Through Bankruptcy Sale with Full Suite of Lab Equipment & Intellectual Property
- NR7 Miner launches zero-cost USDT cloud mining service: daily stable income + referral rewards for double profit
- Deaths Spur Closures, but Troubled Teen Camps Must Be Banned, CCHR Warns
- Palmer Lake Wine Festival To Build Bridges in Small Mountain Community, Highlight Local Businesses
- SacraPod Suites Unveils AI-Powered 'Work + Rest' Smart Hospitality Model for Retrofitting Underused Motels Across the U.S
- From Real Estate to Reel Power: H.L Woods Carves His Legacy as a Cutting-Edge Visionary Filmmaker
- Rx Processing Corp.com The Forth Of July 2025
- New Release: 'The Invisible Alternative' Unveiled by Atrisk Corporation, Resilient
- Cynthia Pinot Among Artists Selected for Renowned London Art Biennale 2025
- Real Estate Experts Highlight Jersey Shore as a Smart Buy in 2025