If you have visited our nation’s Capitol Building, you may have wandered through Statuary Hall on your way from the magnificent Rotunda to the House wing of the building. Back in 1864, Congress authorized each of the states to furnish statues in either marble or bronze to commemorate the civic or military achievements of two individuals who hail from that state. Since the 1880s, Ohio has been represented by marble likenesses of former President of the United States and congressman from Ohio James Garfield, and former congressman and Ohio Governor William Allen.
A federal law change in 2000 established a procedure by which states may petition to exchange their statutes and fostered a movement in Ohio to replace the statue of Governor Allen with an individual who better represents the values and traditions of Ohio. William Allen opposed the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War — a view inconsistent with Ohio’s distinguished history as a stop on the Underground Railroad and at the forefront of the abolition movement. In 2006, the Ohio General Assembly formally passed a bill to establish a bipartisan panel of legislators and tasked them with finding a suitable replacement for Governor Allen. It is important to note that when the decision is made, the replacement statue will be funded with privately-raised dollars.
This year, the committee has held field hearings across the state to learn about the lives and accomplishments of great Ohioans like inventor Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, Shawnee leader and warrior Tecumseh, Union General and former President Ulysses S. Grant, former President Rutherford B. Hayes, Olympian Jesse Owens, abolitionist James Ashley and Major League Baseball player William Ellsworth “Dummy” Hoy. Unfortunately, it seems the more the Committee learns about the lives of these individuals, the more difficult the decision becomes to choose just one.
More hearings are planned in the coming months, but you also have an opportunity to weigh in on the discussion by visiting www.legacyforohio.org. To be eligible for consideration, the individual must be deceased and must have been a resident of Ohio. This is a great opportunity for parents to encourage their children to learn about Ohio history and to form their own opinions about who they’d like to see representing our state in the U.S. Capitol.
Though there are certainly more pressing public policy issues on which the General Assembly must remain focused over the next year, the work of the Statuary Committee has served as a welcome reminder of Ohio’s proud heritage and of the strength of its people throughout our history. Ohio-bred inventors, scientists, athletes, war heroes, business and civic leaders and entertainers have contributed greatly to the fabric of our nation and will continue to do so in the years ahead.
