The DiVine District has received the green light to construct a full-scale replica of Garrett Morgan’s traffic signal.
The idea for the creation of the historic sculpture came to Rebecca MacMillan and Jackie Bertolette, the owners of My Song Boutique, about two months ago as the duo was brainstorming concepts for new sculptures to display along Vine Street.
“We were looking for sculptures with historical significance,” said MacMillan. “I was looking at The DiVine District website one day, saw the Divine District street sign, and it came to me.”
MacMillan approached the Willoughby Historical Society for research and permission to pursue the sculpture, and approval was immediately received. The group provided her with blueprints and specs for the original traffic signal.
The Willoughby-Eastlake Tech Center welding class was the perfect group to approach about building the replica, MacMillan said.
“They were busting at the seams to begin this project,” she said. “The day after they were approached, they already had been researching and had several prototypes in the works.”
Any past vandalism issues won’t be a problem this time around. Bertolette and MacMillan are working with the city to permanently bolt this full-scale replica to the ground.
“This is more important to the city than any sculpture that might be put up,” Bertolette said. “We have something here that says we’re part of history.”
Once completed, the sculpture will be installed at the location where the original traffic signal stood, at the intersection of Vine Street and Erie Street. However, there are conflicting opinions about where the first signal was placed.
Some opponents place the stoplight at the intersection of Glenn Avenue and Erie Street. According to the Willoughby Historical Society, an April 1924 article in The News-Herald places the traffic light at Erie and Vine.
“We just want to make sure it’s displayed, and that the location is accurate,” Bertolette said. “We don’t want the kids to complete this project only to have the sculpture placed in storage.”
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