An Akron sculptor is earning new recognition for his role in creating eight iconic statues on Cleveland’s skyline. In the early 1930s, Italian immigrant Cory Fiocca helped carve the Guardians of Traffic on the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge, now known as Hope Memorial Bridge.

The 43-foot art-deco figures, sculpted out of Berean sandstone on the bridge’s four pylons, inspired the name of the Cleveland Guardians baseball team. The artist’s sons are proud.