Closed churches statues headline redevelopment
DAVE SUTOR, The (Johnstown) Tribune-Democrat
July 17, 2021
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JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP)
A century-old, cast iron statue of the Virgin Mary that once provided inspiration to Roman Catholic worshipers at Immaculate Conception Church now stands as the artistic and spiritual centerpiece of the newly christened Piazza Maria, just a few blocks away from her former home in Johnstown’s Cambria City neighborhood.
It was installed two weeks ago by Stella Property Development & Event Production, a company owned by Steven Biter and Chad Pysher, who are working to repurpose elements of the community’s ethnic and religious history in modern ways.