PROVIDENCE – The statue of Christopher Columbus that has been vandalized twice in recent years, including over the Columbus Day weekend, has been located in the Elmwood neighborhood of Providence for more than a century.
The repeated vandalization of the statue has prompted some discussion about moving the statue to another location, such as Federal Hill, long an Italian American neighborhood.
This week, the Providence city councilman who represents Elmwood introduced a resolution explaining the history of the statue in Columbus Square, and asking his colleagues to not entertain a move unless the community is included in that discussion.
Said James E. Taylor: “The statue is significant to the history of the community, not because of who the statue honors but for the reason where it stands.”
Created by master sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty, the statue was originally cast in silver for the Gorham Manufacturing Co., a significant silver manufacturer founded in Providence.
The bronze replica of Columbus was installed in its location in 1893 and dedicated as a gift to Providence from the Elmwood Association, a civic group comprised of residents who lived near the Gorham plant.
The sprawling factory’s location is now occupied by Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School.
Mary MacDonald is a staff writer for the PBN. Contact her at macdonald@pbn.com.