MiddletownJournal.com

The Virgin Mary has found another home.

More than two years after the relief sculpture was severely damaged during its move, it has been repaired and placed in Paul Scorti's backyard on Bannon Court in Middletown.

The sculpture was removed from the steps of the old John XXIII school before it was rarzed to make way for the Middletown Senior Citizens Center.

But half of the sculpture sustained severe damage when the rigging used to remove it broke. Scorti said the bottom half was damaged "beyond repair."

The sculpture measures 50 inches high, 38 inches wide and 7 inches deep, Scorti said.

Unable to find a home for the Virgin Mary, Scorti spent $2,000 to repair her, and moved her in his yard.

He said the money was well spent. "Every bit of it," said Scorti, 72, who retired from AK Steel's Middletown Works plant in 2003 after 30 years. "I'd spent more if I had more."

The 2,000-pound sculpture was rolled from the street to the backyard on steel pipes, and placed on 1,000 pounds of cement.

"I couldn't be more pleased with it," Scorti said Friday, Oct. 31. "I'm into saving stuff."

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.