It has now been over a decade since circumstances forced the removal of a Nativity scene set in front of the Ellwood City Municipal Building washing out 50 years of tradition in Ellwood City.
In 2011, the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) threatened to sue Ellwood City if officials didn’t remove a Nativity scene that the borough had erected on the property. Ultimately, borough officials agreed to move the Nativity to a different location.
Rumors circulated and claimed that FFRF was “headed to Ellwood City in busloads” and that a motorcycle gang “with the stated objective of using the motorcycles to drown out the voices of any atheists with the temerity to protest.” FFRF claimed they did not arrange for any such protests.
The eventual dispute was extremely controversial; hundreds of local Ellwood City residents rallied against the foundation, stating that the nativity has been part of the Ellwood City community for dozens of years. [VIDEO]
“Away in the manger, not away with the manger,” an Ellwoodian’s sign read at the protest.
A Veteran and funeral director had much to say on the issue at the time as he challenged Council and said he would donate the first $1,000 for a lawyer in memory of his wife. In the end, it seems that legal precedence was at force here and, although very strong support by borough residents, council felt moving the Nativity will be in the best interest of the borough and its residents.
After weeks of communication with FFRF over their original letter on December 1, 2011, the Borough council, at the recommendation of their attorney, passed a resolution yesterday that removed the nativity scene from the municipal building grounds for good.
The council voted 4-2 in favor of moving the nativity to private property giving what FFRF claimed as victory in Ellwood City.
It has since been over a dozen years since the nativity scene has been removed and it appears it is not something that will be coming back any time soon.
In 2015, a mini-nativity scene mysteriously appeared on the Ellwood City Borough Municipal Building property causing some speculation. Since that time Ellwood City has not witnessed much more from the Nativity scene.
it was a worthy cause but there was many gullibles who was waiting with guns for them to come from Wisconsin…. surprised they didnt just take a sword to cut their ear off..