AKRON, Ohio — Akron is known as the “Rubber City.”
Now, a bronze statue will soon be installed to honor that rubber-making history in the center of a newly redeveloped Main Street in the roundabout at the corner of Main and Mill streets.
The statue, created by Ohio sculptor Alan Cottrill, is nearing completion. Its granite base is expected to be ready for installation in November.
“It's an exciting time for our downtown corridor as we are finishing up Phase 1 of our Main Street construction and installing the Rubber Worker statue for all Akron residents and visitors to enjoy," said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. “The statue symbolizes all those working men and women who helped build up our community through their labor, determination, and grit and we're excited to honor them and our rubber history in a spot of prominence in our community.”
A tribute area for rubber workers and their families has also been created on the northeast corner of the roundabout.
“The installation will also include historic plaques that describe the unique contributions of women and African Americans to the rubber industry in Akron,” city officials said in a press release. “The City has partnered with Art x Love on the Rubber Worker Stories Project, an initiative to collect audio/visual stories from Akron’s rubber workers and their descendants. These stories are being transcribed and archived in full in the University of Akron’s Rubber Industry Archives. Excerpts from selected stories are also being paired with archival footage for display online and at an interactive kiosk, which will be installed in the northeast corner this year.”
Commemorative bricks are also being sold for $100. The deadline to buy one is Dec. 31. There have been 938 bricks sold so far, and 700 bricks have already been installed.
“The brick initiative has been so successful that the City has expanded the area where they will be installed to accommodate for the number of bricks purchased.”
