Pictured: The original Our Lady of Fatima Shrine at Indian Lake before the tornado.
July 18, 2024, Press Release from the American Society of Ephesus, Inc.: RUSSELLS POINT, Ohio, July 18, 2024 – On March 14, 2024, the 60-year old Our Lady of Fatima Shrine at Indian Lake was destroyed by an EF-3 tornado that hit the lake region. The 20-foot-tall fiberglass statue was blown far out into the lake and was lost. Efforts to locate the statue by drone were not successful for over two weeks.
“Then, I was contacted by a local dive team who offered to search the murky water,” said Bill Quatman, president of The American Society of Ephesus (“ASE”), a Lima-based non-profit which owns the statue. “The divers found several large pieces of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary the day before Easter Sunday and brought them to the surface. It was very emotional for all of us. Although the divers did not ask for anything, our board wants to give all three of them a small token of our appreciation.”
The volunteer dive team of Jimmy Dawson, Richard Martin, and Josh George, on the day the statue was found.
Chas Quatman, Vice President of ASE, will present checks to the three divers on Friday, July 26, at 5:30 p.m. at St. Mary of the Woods Church, 464 Madison Ave, Russells Point, OH. The three divers are: Jimmy Dawson (of Russells Point, OH), Richard Martin (of Marysville, OH), and Josh George (of Delaware, OH).
ASE is currently hosting a competition for Ohio residents to design the new shrine, with large cash prizes for the winners in six age categories. ASE has partnered with ArtSpace/Lima for the state-wide design competition. “We have had a few excellent designs submitted already, but August 15 is the deadline for submissions,” Bill Quatman said. “We are very excited to see what creative ideas are out there,” said Sally Windle, Executive Director of ArtSpace/Lima. Plans are for the new shrine to be dedicated by August 15, 2026. For details on the competition, go to ASE’s website, www.ase-gbqfoundation.org.
For more information, visit: www.ase-gbqfoundation.org or www.artspacelima.com.
The American Society of Ephesus, Inc. (George B. Quatman Foundation) is a non-profit private foundation formed in 1955 and based in Lima, Ohio whose mission is to promote a greater realization and appreciation of the teachings and wonders of God; to preserve and erect religious shrines; and to restore and preserve the burial grounds of outstanding religious leaders. To find out more, please visit www.ase-gbqfoundation.org.
ArtSpace/Lima is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing visual arts to all throughout the Lima area and beyond. The mission of ArtSpace/Lima is to enrich the community with creativity through exhibitions, educational programs, and events relevant to all cultures and populations. ArtSpace/Lima is supported by grants from the Ohio Arts Council and Arts Midwest.
The Our Lady of Fatima Shrine at Russells Point, Ohio was one of the tallest statues of the Virgin Mary in the United States. Dedicated in August 1964, the 43’ tall monument included a rotating 19’-6” fiberglass statue on a concrete pedestal with fountains, music and lighting. It was damaged beyond repair by the March 2024 tornado prior to a planned 60th anniversary celebration. The shrine property is located at 261 Chase Ave., Russells Point, Ohio
