10/15/2026
This morning a Bucyrus native officially became a part of Ohio history in a very permanent fashion when one of a series of four columnar monuments (with accompanying bronze statuary by nationally recognized sculptor Brenda Councill) honoring the women of Ohio “whose courage, leadership, service, and determination have helped shape our state,” bore a quote from the writings of journalist and political activist, Georgia Elizabeth Hopley (1858-1944). Those were the words released by Secretary Of State Frank LaRose’s office about the new monuments, which now grace the south plaza at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. The Bucyrus Historical Society was fortunate to have had an on the spot reporter for this event in the person of Alison Kovac, our previous curator.
Several state dignitaries were also present, and actively participated in the dedication. They included Secretary of State LaRose and Governor DeWine and his wife. The Society is privileged to be able to share the following photos of the freshly unveiled monuments which were taken by Mrs. Kovac today.
The inscription on one of the columns, which was originally written by Georgia Hopley as part of a pro-suffrage flyer titled “a Few Facts,” and published in 1915, reads as follows:
“But we are optimistic, we so thoroughly love our American young women. And we so thoroughly believe in them, with their bubbling energy and sweeping ambitions, that we rest in the hope that the new day has risen and will bring light.”
All Bucyrians, female and male, young and old, should be proud to have the words of “one of our own” now carved in stone and standing on the grounds of our state’s capitol building for all to see and read for years to come. And, by the way, the Bucyrus Historical Society does have various items in its archives pertaining to Georgia Hopley and other members of her family. Stop by our Scroggs House museum any Friday afternoon and take a look at what we have in our collection.
