MAHONING VALLEY
HOLIDAY BAKING Great recipes from the Homeplate crew: Page 17-19
Urban legends, obscure delights, local lore
COVID-era isolation reveals hidden Youngstown treasures with fascinating backstories BY JILLIAN SMITH
is named) who sold them the land to creou’ve heard of the beloved spots that ate a monastery. Shortly after, the statue’s everyone says you have to visit when caretaker donated it to the monks. you come to Youngstown: Handel’s for ice St. Stephen was joined by another monucream, the MVR for bocce, and the Butler ment that honored the freedom fighters of Institute for some good American art. the Hungarian Revolution, the “Iron CurBut did you know there’s a secret world of tain Stations of the Cross.” The one-of-a hidden treasures in Youngstown – ordinary kind monument blends scenes of Christ’s things and places that can easily go unnocrucifixion with the suffering of Hungarticed but have a fascinating backstory? ian people under Communism, with tranI’ve lived in the Mahoning Valley nearly scriptions in English and Hungarian. all my life and I have been to all the famous The whole complex has become a beaspots, but COVID-19 gave me the time to con of hope to people of many faiths and go beyond the usual suspects, and dig into those seeking peace and solace in its trana whole different world of Youngstown lore quil setting. It’s even illuminated at night, that I had never known. thanks to Rocky Ridge Neighbors, a local Here’s my list of the top five coolest hidnonprofit that tapped nearby maple trees den treasures in Youngstown. and sold the syrup to pay for a light instaln The St. Stephen Statue – Just off Belle lation. Vista Avenue on Youngstown’s West Side My favorite time to visit this hidden treaand hidden beneath a stand of tall pines, is sure is early morning. That’s when a mist a large statue of a man who looks part mehangs gently around the pine trees and it dieval knight, part Catholic saint, which is becomes a quiet, restful place of meditation. pretty much what he is. n Eddie Loves Debbie – O.K., so this The statue depicts St. Stephen, the first one isn’t one place, but a whole bunch of king of Hungary, who was born in the year places – the side of a bridge, a telephone 925. According to an article in the CathoJILLIAN SMITH pole, a gas station pump, a park bench, and lic Exponent, the statue was originally Mr. Peanut greets motorists from the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Bridge at Spring Common probably many other locations. built for the Hungarian Pavilion at the What makes them special? Pretty much 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. nothing, except for one phrase. It’s written in But as the fair wound down and the instantly recognizable, swirly, and, perhaps, Hungarian delegation was getting ready manic script: “Eddie loves Debbie.” to haul St. Stephen to Europe, World War The motif started appearing about two deII broke out, and its caretakers decided it cades ago in otherwise mundane outdoor spots was safer to leave the statue in the United throughout the city. But like a Youngstown verStates. A wealthy anonymous patron resion of the artist Banksy, Eddie never desired portedly purchased the statue and agreed for his, or Debbie’s, identity to be revealed, to hold it for safekeeping. only his seemingly undying love for her. When Hungarians rose up in 1956 Over the years, many have come forward against the Soviet Union, which had been claiming to be the real Eddie or Debbie, but occupying the country since the end of the none have been able to make a clear claim as war, a full-scale revolution ensued. BelievThe Ones. It’s left the field of possibilities open ing the Hungarian Catholic Church was for who they might be, and theories abound. responsible, the Soviets began arresting One theory holds that Eddie was drafted members of the Catholic clergy. during the Vietnam War. Believing he was The arrests prompted a group of Francisdead, Debbie moved on and married anothcan monks to flee Hungary for Youngstown. er man. Upon his return and broken from They were joined by about 200,000 other the war, Eddie went mad with grief realizHungarians, all of whom settled in U.S. ing his love no longer felt the same way. His towns that had plentiful job opportunities, only solace was scrawling the phrase obsesas Youngstown did at the time. sively wherever he could, hoping she might The monks met with Ward Beecher of JOHN STRAN See FIVE, Page 12 Youngstown (after whom the Planetarium Council Rock at Lincoln Park in Youngstown METRO MONTHLY DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 11
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