Blessed Mother statue atop hospital cracks, shifts in quake

The landmark, 30-foot, statue of the Blessed Mother atop Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden cracked and shifted slightly after being shaken in Tuesday's earthquake.

Hospital officials ave closed the main entrance as a precaution, according to spokeswoman Lauren Ward.

Ward said patients with scheduled visits today must now go through the Emergency Room entrance on the side of the hospital.

The statue weighs five tons and was assembled in pieces atop the hospital when it was built 60 years ago.

Ward said engineers and work crews will erect a scaffold this morning to scale the statue and begin repairs.

"From what our structural engineer told us, it's designed in parts like a wedding cake," Ward said.

At least one of the pieces cracked and shifted one to two inches, she said.

"They are going to try to repair it with scaffolding on the roof," Ward noted. "But they might have to take it down to repair."

She said CEO Alexander J. Hatala personally went to the top of the building yesterday to inspect the statue with engineers.

"Right now, we're not sure how much work has to be done," Ward added.

She said the crack and shift do not appear to pose any danger, and that crews hope to have the statue repaired by the end of the day.

The statue was given to the hospital by Franciscan Sisters of Allegheny, N.Y.

"It would be a shame to have to take it down, Ward said. "It's an important part of our history."