“The higher it’s placed the better it will be for the city’s art reputation,” wrote one newspaper. The writer added. “If it should be put down 500-feet in the bowels of the earth instead of in the air, it would be cause for rejoicing.”
The Penn statue was problematic from the get-go. First, there was disagreement on how fat to make Penn. The first models of the statue by Alexander Milne Calder showed Penn plump and elderly but historians pointed out that Penn was in his 30s and quite fit when he founded Pennsylvania.
The historians also said Quaker plain dress was not mandatory during the era and Penn, who inherited big bucks, was a fancy dresser. So, the statue has Penn attired in an expensive ruffled shirt and fancy coat.
Then there was (and continues) criticism of how the statue faces. Calder reportedly wanted the statue looking south. Instead, Penn looks to the northeast. Officially, he faces Penn Treaty Park where he signed a treaty with local Indians.
Wise-guys said he is looking toward Philly’s red light district.
Generations of Philadelphia have made jokes about the placement of Billy Penn’s right hand, palm down. From a certain angle, the hand looks like Billy’s “Willy.”
One WEB story is headlined “The William Penn Wiener.” Another post is called the “Accidental Dong.” An old postcard depicts the “erotic” photo of the statue with the caption “Hanging out in Philly.”
Regarding which way Penn faces, a tourist recently came to the City Hall Visitors Center, positive that statute rotated – as if mounted on a lazy Susan.
City Hall took 30 years to complete. The cost estimate of $10 million, more than doubled in the end. Many citizens simply hated it.
The extremely ornate, statue-and- doo-dad infested structure was out of fashion by its 1901 completion. It was called “The Marble Monstrosity” and “The Marble Maw.” Others dubbed it “The Obstruction,” "The Nuisance,” “The Public Folly" or “The Marble Elephant.”
Today most Philadelphians love City Hall – and so do birds. But that’s
another story.