Published Thursday, Aug. 12, 1999 Epstein said a park security guard this morning discovered the black statues of the late Shenango Valley industrialist/philanthropist and his wife covered with a whitish, possibly soaplike material.
The vandalism is believed to have happened after the park closed, Epstein said. "It's all going to be taken off," said Epstein. "Why and when it happened I can't answer."
Epstein said the statues were donated last year to the park by businessman James E. Winner Jr., chairman of Sharon-based Winner International Corp. Epstein did not know their value.
"I'm concerned," added Epstein. But "there is vandalism in the park as with any public area like it."
He said he didn't plan to file a police report.
Jay Paul of Sharon was at work this morning cleaning the statues.
He said it would be easy to clean off what he described as white shoe polish, but expected trouble getting silver paint off the figures.
