american public works

York, PA

This is a very simple, peaceful sculpture. She is located on Cherry Lane in York, PA. Cherry Lane runs between Philadelphia and Market Street up from the Central Market. She was dedicated in 2000. Sponsored by the Wolf Foundation and York Art Aliiance. She is a sample of Garden Art Sculptures.

Rutherford, NJ

[ Excerpts taken from an Original article by Debra Winters. ]

The Rutherford Fire Department unveiled a bronze statue of a firelighter in Firefighter's Park on Sept. 22.

Ann Mery sang several patriotic songs during the ceremony and Mayor Bemadette McPherson spoke words of firefighter’s courage and bravery. Councilwoman and Fire Department Liaison Denise Ross also spoke, and a special reading was done by the young Michelle Dunn, entitled, "The Last Alarm." Michelle's father died fighting a house fire in the borough.

In an excerpt from that reading Dunn said, "But now I truly realize the greatest gift a man can give is to lay his life upon the line so that someone else might live. So as we go from day to day and we pray to God above, say a prayer for your local fireman, he may save the one you love."

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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....

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Philadelphia, PA

Located at Kelly Field House, St. Joeseph's Prep School on Girard Avenue in Philadelphia, PA. The Bronze "Hawk", By Lorann Jacobs is located at the doors of the field house.

The dedication of the seven million dollar state of the art multi-use athletic facility marks the structural completion of the Prep's master plan to rebuild its campus and facilities following a disastrous fire that destroyed most of the school in 1966.

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Boalsburg, PA

[ Excerpt taken from Town & Gown, May 2000 ]

On Monday, May 29, the three women who made Boalsburg "The Birthplace of Memorial Day" will be honored with a life-size bronze sculpture depicting the first Memorial Day in October 1864, six months before the end of the Civil War. That's when Emma Hunter Stuart and her friend, Sophie Keller Hall, both 16 years old, and Elizabeth Weaver Myers, 46, carried flowers to the cemetery beside what is now Zion Lutheran Church to decorate the graves of- Emma's father and Elizabeth's son.

Dr. Reuben Hunter, a surgeon with the 54th Pennsylvania Regiment, had died of typhoid at Annapolis, Maryland, on September 19. Pvt. Amos Myers of the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, commanded by future governor and Penn State trustee Col. James A. Beaver, had been killed at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. The women also put flowers on the graves of other war dead, including Revolutionary War and War of 1812 soldiers, and agreed to meet the following year to do the same.

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Red Lion, PA

Anyone who graduated from Red Lion since 1936 when he originated knows that "Leo" has reigned as the school district's mascot. Until this time, Leo appeared in costume only at athletic events and other school-related activities.

Now, thanks to the generosity of the Red Lion Area Educations Foundation, a 500-pound bronze rendition of Leo stands majestically in the front lobby of the senior high school.

An original creation of area artist Lorann Jacobs, wife of Joe Jacobs, who is a 1966 Red Lion graduate, the bronze sculpture is a one of a kind which stands atop a stone pillar and 1000 pound boulder put in place through the efforts of Phil Golden, a 1949 graduate.

Mrs. Jacobs sculpted the original in wax which she transported to a Philadelphia foundry to be cast in bronze. The lifelike figure stands about six feet from head to tail with detailed features including a "roaring" mouth.

It is indeed an impressive monument to its Leo namesake.