ROYSTON — Since being acquired by the City of Royston in January, the 1977 Felix de Weldon statue of baseball legend Ty Cobb has been waiting for a permanent home.
Tuesday night, the Royston City Council decided where that home will be: in front of the Royston Public Library, home of the original Ty Cobb Shrine.
"Well, it's one step closer to being a reality, to getting the statue actually displayed in town," said Julie Ridgway, director of the Ty Cobb Museum in Royston. "I'm very pleased. It's where I thought it should be, the logical place for it, and I've had so many people here in town come up and tell me, 'You know where they ought to put that statue? Right out in front of the library.'"
The statue originally was located at Turner Field, but did not move to the new home of the Atlanta Braves.
The statue's new home will place it right beside U.S. 29 (Franklin Springs Street), almost within sight of the Ty Cobb Museum and several other structures bearing Cobb's name.
"I think everybody in town had already told all the council and the mayor and everybody, so I think Tuesday night was a formality, to tell you the truth," Ridgway said. "I think everybody pretty much agreed already that there's where it should go. Everybody is excited, and we're moving forward."
Now that the location has been determined, a base will be constructed to hold the statue.
The City of Royston will announce unveiling details for the statue one they are worked out.
Those who want to learn more about Ty Cobb have an opportunity to attend a free presentation by Cobb historian Wesley Fricks at 7 p.m. Monday, March 20, at Royston Masonic Lodge. The Masonic Lodge invites the public to attend the presentation at their lodge hall on Wildcat Bridge Road just off Ga. 17 in Royston.
