Italian Sculptors of Guardians Ohio Historical Marker Ceremony Random Road - Little Italy May 5, 2023
Since the Cleveland Indians changed their name to the Cleveland Guardians the stone monuments called the Guardians of Traffic on the Lorain Carnegie - Hope Memorial Bridge in Cleveland have deservedly received more attention.
Now the Italian immigrants who cut and sculpted the stone for those impressive monuments are getting much-deserved attention. An Ohio Historical Marker was dedicated on May 5, 2023 on Random Road on the street in Little Italy at the former site of Ohio Stone Cut Company which created the statues.
Italian Stone Cutters Ohio Marker covered before unveiling
The dedication began with MC Joe Marinucci, Executive Director Little Italy Redevelopment Corporation, who told of his own immigrant roots.
Joe Marinucci
Joe then introduced Thomas Chema, Trustee Board Member of the Ohio History Connection, who explained the process of establishing markers.
Thomas Chema
Thomas Chema presents proclamation to Anthony Pinto
He also recognized Mary Fatica Martin who was the driving force behind the project. She received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Mary Fatica Martin
Watch a video of the above presentations.
Next, Joe Marinucci called up Thomas Chema, Cleveland City Council president Blaine Griffin and Mary Fatica Martin, the driving force behind the project, to unveil the marker.
Tom Chema, Blaine Griffin, Joe Marinucci and Mary Fatica Martin unveil the historical marker
This is the first and only bilingual Ohio Historical marker. One side is in English and the other in Italian.
Watch the short video of the marker unveiling.
Father Joseph Previte, Pastor of Holy Rosary Church, gave a blessing. (For some reason the video got wavy near the end and there were some issues for the rest of the videos. Sorry about that.)
Father Joseph Previte
Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin worked with the committee to make the marker happen. He gave his remarks.
City Council President Blaine Griffin
Next, Anthony Pinto, president of Union E Fratellanza Oratinese, an Italian Cultural Club, gave his remarks.
Anthony Pinto
Then, Pamela Dorazio-Dean, WRHS Curator of Italian American History and Director of the Italian American Museum of Cleveland gave her keynote address which included the history of the Italians in Cleveland.
Pamela Dorazio-Dean
Everyone wanted to take pictures and then many attended Mass at Holy Rosary and a lunch reception in the Church hall.
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