Morley's Dog is a Victorian-era statue that was washed away in the great Johnstown flood of 1889, but was recovered and eventually donated to the city. Since then, Morley's Dog has become a beloved Johnstown icon. But the statue is badly in need of restoration. This section of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA) site tells you all about the history of Morley's Dog and how you can help save Johnstown's best friend.

The Statue Today
Morley's Dog is badly in need of conservation. It was made by the J.W. Fiske Iron Works of a zinc alloy commonly used in the Victorian era. Although this material was highly popular at the time, it's not particularly durable. Many historically significant objects made of this material have needed extensive repairs, including many Civil War monuments. A variety of factors have contributed to the problem, including a few well-publicized incidents of vandalism. At some point, the statue was filled with concrete in an attempt to repair it, and the concrete expands and contracts with changing temperatures. This has further weakened the statue, opening small cracks in the zinc alloy.
The statue has been removed from the pocket park in downtown Johnstown where it has been displayed for years. Expert metallurgists from the Concurrent Technologies Corporation in Johnstown have volunteered to do a detailed analysis of the statue's condition.
The City of Johnstown retains ownership of the statue, and the Johnstown Area Heritage Association is spearheading the effort to conserve it.