Ellen Webster Palmer Statue Will Be Restored as Construction Continues on Historic River Common at Wilkes-Barre

(Wilkes-Barre) - The statue of Ellen Webster Palmer, a landmark and frequent backdrop for photographs on the River Common at Wilkes-Barre, was removed for restoration on April 5th, 2007.  Under the direction of Luzerne County Engineer Jim Brozena, crews from Conti Construction and the Baut Studio of Swoyersville secured the statue and removed it from its pedestal.  It was transported to the Baut Studio where it will be refurbished.  When the Historic River Common project is complete, the statue will be placed in the redesigned and expanded Luzerne County Courthouse garden.  Ellen Webster Palmer was a champion of child labor laws, and is depicted with two young children, believed to be "breaker boys" who worked in coal breakers during the anthracite coal era in Northeastern Pennsylvania.