Youngstown in Mahoning County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Working Class Heroes

“Coal Miner,” “Steel Worker,” and “Home from the War”

— The Art of Sydney Rackoff —

Working Class Heroes Interpretive Panel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, March 22, 2021

1. Working Class Heroes Interpretive Panel

Inscription.

Working Class Heroes. “Coal Miner,” “Steel Worker,” and “Home from the War”. Sidney (Sid) Rackoff (1919- 2014) created these sculptures in the 1990s. They represent hard physical labor, military service and human suffering. The themes reflect the dedication and toil that local men and women gave throughout history. , Sid lived an amazing life as a soldier, steel worker, small business owner, religious leader and artist, and his art echoes those roles. These sculptures, titled Coal Miner, Steel Worker, and Home from the War, are over nine feet tall, constructed of scrap metal and represent themes from Sidney Rackoff's life experiences. He created more than seventy statues in his lifetime. Rabbi Rackoff was also interested in “...the response his work provokes, whether it is admiration or repulsion.” , Sid enlisted in the Ohio 83rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army, during World War II. Citing his war experiences, he stated, “The suffering of war has been troubling me ever since 1945.” Sid was not anti-war, but said he was just working to “...show the suffering that war brings to people.” He created more than seventy statues in his lifetime. , In 1969, Sidney Rackoff graduated from Yeshiva University in New York. He became a Rabbi and served Jewish communities in Ohio and Pennsylvania for more than thirty- five years. In the 1980s, Rabbi Rackoff attended art classes at Lorain County Community College, and Cleveland State University. He worked in several mediums, metal sculptures being but one of his artistic outlets. , Credits: Thank you to Ray, Nick and Gene Rackoff and their families for their generosity in creating this exhibit. . Jim Dimusio - Koncrete Dezign. . Gary Clayman - Niles Iron and Metal. . Ron’s Sign Shop. . Bob Fahlman - Roberts Roofing. . Dr. Thomas Leary, History Dept., Youngstown State University and Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor (YHCIL). . Dr. Marcelle Wilson, History Dept., YSU, Site Manager, YHCIL. . Dr. John Liana, English Dept., YSU, Project Coordinator, YHCIL. . Carlo Wolff, Staff Reporter. Cleveland Jewish News, 8 Dec., 2014. . All images courtesy of the Rackoff family, used by permission.

Sidney (Sid) Rackoff (1919- 2014) created these sculptures in the 1990s. They represent hard physical labor, military service and human suffering. The themes reflect the dedication and toil that local men and women gave throughout history.

Sid lived an amazing life as a soldier, steel worker, small business owner, religious leader and artist, and his art echoes those roles. These sculptures, titled Coal Miner, Steel Worker, and Home from the War, are over nine feet tall, constructed of scrap metal and represent themes from Sidney Rackoff's life experiences. He created more than seventy statues in his lifetime. Rabbi Rackoff was also interested in “...the response his work provokes, whether it is admiration or repulsion.”

Sid enlisted in the Ohio 83rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army, during World War II. Citing his war experiences, he stated, “The suffering of war has been troubling me ever since 1945.” Sid was not anti-war, but said he was just working to “...show the suffering that war brings to people.” He created more than seventy statues in his lifetime.

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1969, Sidney Rackoff graduated from Yeshiva University in New York. He became a Rabbi and served Jewish communities in Ohio and Pennsylvania for more than thirty- five years. In the 1980s, Rabbi Rackoff attended art classes at Lorain County Community College, and Cleveland State University. He worked in several mediums, metal sculptures being but one of his artistic outlets.

Credits: Thank you to Ray, Nick and Gene Rackoff and their families for their generosity in creating this exhibit. • Jim Dimusio - Koncrete Dezign. • Gary Clayman - Niles Iron and Metal. • Ron’s Sign Shop. • Bob Fahlman - Roberts Roofing. • Dr. Thomas Leary, History Dept., Youngstown State University & Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor (YHCIL). • Dr. Marcelle Wilson, History Dept., YSU, Site Manager, YHCIL. • Dr. John Liana, English Dept., YSU, Project Coordinator, YHCIL. • Carlo Wolff, Staff Reporter. Cleveland Jewish News, 8 Dec., 2014. • All images courtesy of the Rackoff family—used by permission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical date for this entry is December 8, 2014.

Location. 41° 6.186′ N,

Interpretive Panel and the three sculptures image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, March 22, 2021

2. Interpretive Panel and the three sculptures

80° 39.088′ W. Marker is in Youngstown, Ohio, in Mahoning County. It is at the intersection of West Wood Street and Elm Street, on the left when traveling west on West Wood Street. It is on the grounds of the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Commerce museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 151 W Wood St, Youngstown OH 44502, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Western Reserve

and in the Mahoning Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Little Steel Strike (within shouting distance of this marker); A Little Bit of Youngstown’s History (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Warner Theater (about 700 feet away); Harry Burt and Good Humor / Ross Radio Company

Working Class Heroes Sculptures image. Click for full size.

Sculptures by Sid Rackoff. Photograph by J.J. Prats, March 22, 2021

3. Working Class Heroes Sculptures

Left to right: “Home from the War,” “Steel Worker,” and “Coal Miner.”

(approx. 0.2 miles away); The Founding of Youngstown (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Ohio Settlers in the Mahoning River Valley (approx. 0.2 miles away); 1959-1975 The Vietnam War (approx. 0.2 miles away); Union National Bank Building / Central Square (1798-1899) (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Youngstown.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Warner Brothers (was about 700 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. The marker contains five images captioned “Left to Right: Home from the War, Steel Worker, and Coal Miner.” “‘Torso’ Illustrating the Casualties and Horrors of War.” “Portrait of Rabbi Rackoff in Full Rabbinical Attire.” “Photo of Rackoff in his studio, working on sculptures.” “A self-portrait of Sid Rackoff.”

Regarding Working Class Heroes. More of Sidney Rackoff’s sculptures are on exhibit inside the museum.

“Home from the War”<br>by Sidney Rackoff image. Click for full size.

Photograph by J.J. Prats, March 22, 2021

4. “Home from the War”
by Sidney Rackoff

“Steel Worker”<br>by Sidney Rackoff image. Click for full size.

Photograph by J.J. Prats, March 22, 2021

5. “Steel Worker”
by Sidney Rackoff

“Coal Miner”<br>by Sidney Rackoff image. Click for full size.

Photograph by J.J. Prats, March 22, 2021

6. “Coal Miner”
by Sidney Rackoff

Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 542 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 30, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.