Historic Johnson City Square Deal Arch to Return Soon

The Square Deal Arch at the Johnson City-Binghamton border may be gone but it's certainly not forgotten - and the landmark should be back to where it belongs this year.

Endicott Johnson Shoe Company workers built the structure more than a century ago to honor the founder of the business, George F. Johnson.

The arch, which was dedicated in 1920, had started to crumble in recent years. Village officials approved a project to repair and stabilize the structure.

The original plan called for the restoration work to be performed at the site of the arch on Main Street. But shortly after the project began, it became clear the structure's condition was worse than expected.

The arch's stone and steel components were removed so the necessary work could be done off-site.

A Rochester-area company - Lakeland Concrete Products - now is fabricating the components for the arch.

Johnson City Mayor Christina Charuk said the pieces of the arch should be delivered to the village soon.

Charuk told WNBF News the company is reworking some of the stonework. She expects the actual work of reassembling the arch over Main Street will start in late spring.

A detour around the construction site will be needed. Traffic likely will be directed around the work zone for about two weeks.

WNBF VIDEO FLASHBACK: A look at initial restoration efforts at the arch on April 11, 2024.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.