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Photo of the Week
This week we have another 35mm slide scan that my brother Barry sent me. What a photo showing the Canal Zone in the golden years. Here we are in Balboa by the old Canal Zone Police Station and YMCA. The date is May 30, 1953 and the occasion is the installation and dedication of the miniature Boy Scouts Statue of Liberty. Here is an article from the Panama Canal Review: The Canal Zone
Statue of Liberty was donated to the Canal Zone Boy Scout Council in
May 1951 by Morris Hoffman, a Kansas City, Mo. contractor and scouting
enthusiast. The idea of a replica of the statue originated with Jack
Whitaker, a Kansas City businessman and Scouter of long standing,
during the 1951 "Strengthen the Arm of Freedom" crusade of
the Boy Scouts of America. A number of the 7 1/2 foot high copper and bronze statues were made in a Chicago factory and presented to Boy Scout councils in 39 states. They are found gracing the grounds of eight state capitols, the lawns of 145 Court Houses, and 206 of the statues are located in Scout camps, school grounds and public buildings. In addition to the Canal Zone, the replicas also are found in the Philippines, Guam, Honolulu and Puerto Rico. Although the Governor of the Canal Zone had approved the installation site in the triangle of land bound by La Boca Road, Balboa Road and the parking lot in front of the Balboa Police Station, there were no funds for the work and the statue was placed on display at the Canal Zone Library. When funds, mainly donations from the Boy Scout community, were available, the statue was installed at the selected site and dedicated on May 30, 1953. The widening of Balboa Road made it necessary to move the statue to another area. It was relocated in May 1972 across the street from the Balboa Fire Station. When the Treaty Implementation began, they moved the statue to Fort Clayton next to Jarmin Field. When it was time for Fort Clayton to close, the statue was moved to the US Ambassador's house in Panama City, Panama. I assume it is still there. This is one of those super captures in time. Thanks for sending Barry. |
