The statue of the city’s former mayor, criticized for his segregationist views and whose monument was debated vigorously by residents of a changing city, was taken down Tuesday morning from in front of old city hall.
It will be moved to the Dearborn Historical Museum, where Jack Tate, acting chief curator, said he’s heard that the city wants to have the statue in its new place, outside the museum, “before frost gets on the ground.”
“Orville Hubbard is a big part of our history,” Tate said.
It will be the only statue on display at the museum at 915 Brady St. The museum, which brings in some 4,000-5,000 visitors annually, is on a mission to increase its public visibility. The Hubbard statue, which will face the street and ‘wave’ to passersby, is thought to help with that effort.
More than 30 years after Hubbard’s death, and more than 35 years since Hubbard last served as mayor, his tenure remains controversial.
Supporters speak of Hubbard as a mayor who kept his city safe and clean and prosperous, even as Detroit’s fortunes changed for the worse right next door.
Critics speak of Hubbard as the most prominent northern segregationist, and say that honoring him is inappropriate in a world, and in a community, that has changed significantly since Hubbard’s time.
For the full article, see James David Dickson, “Statue of Dearborn ex-Mayor Orville Hubbard taken down”, Detroit News, September 29, 2015.