Workers of York
York, PA
 In early 1995, while touring the Industrial Museum of York County I saw a lot of products that were manufactured in York County. I then realized that nowhere in the museum were the workers who created those products recognized. I began thinking. "Why not do something to honor the workers?"
I didn't know where to begin, but I felt we needed to do something. I discussed my thoughts with anyone who would listen. I thought a bronze statue might be a fitting tribute to the workers and I knew that it must include more than a single worker. It a statue was to be the tribute, I now needed to find a sculptor. In discussion with Terry DiGruttolo of the PA State Education Association, he indicated he knew a young local artist, Lorann Jacobs, whose work included creating metal statues. He arranged a meeting with Lorann and the statue was born. Lorann began work immediately, donating her time and talent to make the project a reality. The statue is her creation.
I believed this should be a community project with Labor and the Business community working together. The York Area Labor-Management Council seemed to be the logical organization to be involved to assist in the funding and administration of the project. They agreed. The next step was to invite seven (7) civic minded business leaders to a meeting to discuss the project. They all agreed to endorse and financially support the project. The local unions had agreed earlier they would support and work for the completion of this project. The project was now going to be a community project.
Money was now being committed to the project. We needed a bank account to receive the donations that were to follow. Bruce Rhoads, Chair of the Labor-Management Council, donated the first $25.00 to open that account in January 1996.
April of 1996 I visited Senator Dan Delp in his office in Harrisburg and explained the idea; he responded by asking how much money I thought we would need. I simply responded $100,000. Eventually York County received a stale grant in the amount of $100,000, $65,000 for partial funding of the statue, $10,000 to be set aside for future maintenance of the statue and the balance to the Agriculture and Industrial Museum.
Now that the statue was going to be a reality a base would be needed for the statue to stand upon. The committee began searching for a granite base large enough for the statue. Black granite that is mined in Pennsylvania was chosen and an eight (8) ton block was finally found and prepared for the base.
The statue you see today is the fruition of the work of many people from York County, from the workers, to the business community, to the financial community and the general public. We should all be proud of our accomplishment.
— Richard L. Boyd
Height:
11 ft
Diameter of Base:
7 ft X 7 ft x 2 ft
Base:
8 tons of black granite mined in Pennsylvania
Material:
2,000 lbs. of bronze
Location:
217 West Princess Street, York, PA
York Industrial Museum
(York County Heritage Trust)
For Museum Hours: Call (717) 846-6452
Bronze Casting: Laran Bronze, Chester, PA
I’d like to extend my personal thanks to the local unions, business community, committees and private individuals who have made all this possible, because without your help I would not be here today. A special thank you also to Mr. Dick Boyd & Mr. Terry DiGruttolo who gifted me this wonderful opportunity.
— Lorann Jacobs, Sculptor
To view more of Loran’s public works, click here.
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