40 Years Ago: Courthouse Statuary Victim of Vandalism, Accident

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa -- Before the demolition of the 109-year-old Lycoming County courthouse began in May of 1969, plans were in place for the removal of the clock tower’s weathervane, historical plaques, and other pieces of county history which were to be refurbished and installed in the newly constructed $3.6 million courthouse after its dedication in 1971. One of these artifacts, however, barely survived intact.

“Hippie-types” Suspected
A 100+-year old piece of statuary that stood high behind the judge’s bench in old courtroom No. 1 became a victim of thieves when it was discovered that the scales held by one of the figures was missing.

The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reported in its June 1 (1969) edition that several “hippie-type” young people were seen in the courtroom on the day of the theft. Within days, however, the missing scales were discovered in a mailbox at High and Grier Streets in the city and returned to the courthouse.

Statue Shattered
Within days of the scales’ return, the statues were removed from the courtroom to be placed in storage. But the piece known as the “Petitioner” – one of the trio with “Justice” and “Justice’s Verdict” – was accidentally dropped and broken.

Although the piece was shattered, one of the County Commissioners at the time, Paul Bloom, approached Robert Schuler, an art instructor at Williamsport High School, with the request to attempt the statue’s repair. Schuler offered to contribute his time and talent in an effort to piece together the crumbled statue.

Using a fiberglass resin to repair and a latex paint as the final finish, Schuler spent over six months and hundreds of hours working on the project. After restoration of the figure was completed, the trio of statues was installed in an alcove on the second floor of the new courthouse after it reopened in 1971. Visitors to the courthouse today can view the statues which are located near the elevator.

History Intact
Schuler retired in 1999 after teaching in Williamsport schools for 30 years and now lives in southeastern Pennsylvania. When he was contacted three years ago, Schuler stated that he has not seen his handiwork for almost ten years but vividly recalls the day when  Commissioner Paul Bloom called to ask if he’d be interested in putting some pieces of Lycoming County’s local history back together.

Courthouse Trivia: Did you know?

      …that the 800-foot-long stone wall surrounding the courthouse is made of stones quarried from Bald Eagle Mountain near Skyline Drive?

      …that there is a time capsule in the courthouse lobby? Items of historical value were placed in the capsule in 1971 after the new courthouse was built. The cover can be viewed in the lobby’s left wall near the metal detector.

      …that there was once a checkerboard on the courthouse plaza? The whereabouts of the checkers tree stump is currently unknown.

Here is a view of
the Lycoming County Courtroom 1, circa 1908, that shows where the statue was
originally located.
(Courtesy of Scott Knyrim; photo from “The City of Williamsport: Illustrated 1910”).

Statue shattered (Photo courtesy of former Lycoming County Commissioner Paul Bloom).

Local teacher Robert Schuler attempts reconstruction (Courtesy of Williamsport Sun-Gazette).

The restored statuary group symbolizing the Petitioner (left), Justice (center), and Justice’s Verdict (right) is displayed on the second floor of the Lycoming County courthouse.  

Former Commissioner Paul Bloom displays cover of courthouse time capsule installed in 1971 (Courtesy of Williamsport Sun-Gazette).

According to the caption of this photo published 8/30/1973 in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, “Commissioner Henry F. Frey got the idea for the checkerboard while on a trip to New York City. Frey and Commissioner Paul Bloom decided to fasten a checkerboard to an old pine tree stump. Bloom (left) tries out the board with Theron B. Ritter, of High Street.”