Marblehead, Ohio: Giant-Handed Jacque

Jacques did indeed stand in front of a roast beef sandwich restaurant on Rt. 42 in Mansfield Ohio ("Jacques' roast beef sandwiches are delicious!") in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He held a tray containing several juicy sandwiches. I lived across the street from the restaurant. I believe he was removed not because he presented any danger, but because the restaurant went out of business, and was replaced by a franchise roast beef restaurant.

Sometime within the past 12 months somebody put up a BP gas station next to him. I was shocked! At least they left him standing (he's a little taller than the bp sign they put up in front of him) but the new surroundings kind of detract from his, er, majesty.....

Last week, after returning from a trip to Marblehead, Ohio, I noticed you didn't have a photo of Jacques, the handless goliath in the food-service cap. Just so happens I got a shot when we stopped for gas. Jacques now stands beside highway 163, between an RV sales business and a Shell station. He looks to be in pretty good shape -- except for the hands, which have been replaced by what looks like a framework for a small shield.

Jacque, the statue seen at Marblehead, on Lake Erie, was born in Mansfield in the early 1970s. He stood in front of Jacque's Roast Beef restaurant right on the edge of the street, on Rt 42. Jacque's large arms and hands hung over the street. I remember that my husband was involved in writing a sign ordinance for the city. Apparently Jacque was deemed dangerous to passing traffic, and he quickly relocated to the Lake Erie area. I remember seeing him for years laying in the backyard of a house.

There is what appears to be a Muffler Man outside of the East Harbor State Park on the way to Marblehead, OH. When I first moved to the area in the early 80s, he stood at the ready with a giant pizza box, blue jacket, white "sailor" cap and a big smile. Then for a number of years he laid on the ground (apparently napping). Now he heralds the entrance to a trailer park. Its hard to be certain if he is a true Muffler Man, his hands were amputated at some point, probably to hold that pizza!