When the contents of Franklin Mall were on the auction block in 2009, John Ballog, owner of Associated Office Furniture, said he had his mind set on one particularly large purchase — the Blind Justice statue that for so long had stood at the center of the mall.
The story goes that Ralph Owen acquired the statue from a Dallas, Texas, curio shop, but its original home had been a Texas city courthouse.
Owen reportedly traded an MG sports car for the statue in 1967, so perhaps it shouldn’t have come as a surprise for Ballog when his most recent offer for the statue — now listed for $3,000 at the Wabash Depot Antique Centre — involved a trade of various goods, which he, ultimately declined.
Ballog said he was a friend of Owen’s, and they had discussed the statue in previous years. He said he thought Owen would be happy if he was able to buy it. The statue didn’t come with any paperwork about its origins and maker, but Ballog said a magnet won’t hold to it, so there’s a good bet it’s actually made of copper. Along with the statue, Ballog said he also bid on some of the tables and captain’s chairs from the cafe. He bought them with the purpose of resale or lease. He said he did hear from a historical society in regards to gathering paperwork for the statue, but nothing solid has come of it yet.
The statue, with her eyes covered and left hand holding a scale standing at equal, now stands on first floor of the Wabash Depot. Kim Aukamp, owner of Wabash Depot, said several people who have come through the mall have taken notice of it and recognized its origin.
