The statue talks: Steve Wiley on the Morristown Green Podcast

Steve Wiley, with his book of poetry, 'Mockingbird Come Home,' in December 2007. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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Imagine if statues could talk.

Sadly, George Washington is keeping mum on the Morristown Green. But the Morristown & Township Library is dedicating a statue to a founding father of modern Morristown…and happily, this one can talk.

The Morristown Green Podcast is thrilled to present our 2007 interview with the late Stephen B. Wiley.

The Morristown Green Podcast: Click play to listen:

Wiley, whose bronze likeness now welcomes visitors to the library, helped lay the foundation upon which today’s Morristown is built.

Foremost was his landmark court victory a half-century ago that merged Morristown and Morris Township schools into the Morris School District, hailed today as a beacon of diversity.

“That was a bloody, fierce battle…and I was not a popular person,” the Morristown High graduate recalls in the interview.

Statue of Steve Wiley, outside the Morristown & Township Library, June 29, 2021. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Wiley also raised millions of dollars to help rescue the crumbling Community Theatre. Rechristened as the Mayo Performing Arts Center, it’s now a cultural destination and economic engine for the downtown.

‘HOPE IS A RECIPE OF SUCCESS’ : Mayo Performing Arts Center, April 8, 2020, early in the pandemic. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Stephen B. Wiley unveils statues on the Green in 2007. Photo courtesy of Peggy Carroll
Stephen B. Wiley unveils statues of Washington & friends on the Green in 2007. Photo courtesy of Peggy Carroll

He raised millions more to preserve the historic Green, where the tight-lipped Washington greets residents and tourists alike.

Wiley rustled up additional millions for a new library wing — where this podcast was edited in air-conditioned comfort, with a splendid view of the lawn where Wiley’s statue greets patrons while gazing at the theater he held dear.

Statue of Steve Wiley outside the Morristown & Township Library wing that he raised money to build, July 1, 2021. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

In our conversation, he reflects on the hows and the whys of all of this. And he shares a revealing glimpse into his soul: The soul of a poet.

Steve Wiley, who died in 2015 at age 86, took up poetry when he was 70.

His sharp eye and crisp verse found magic in the familiar, from Fort Nonsense to Foote’s Pond, and marvels in everyday mysteries, from grandparenting to pointy elbows.

You can hear the poet recite these poems in the podcast.

Our thanks to the following sponsors for making this special episode of The Morristown Green Podcast possible:

The Community Foundation of New Jersey.
The Morristown & Morris Township Library.
The Mayo Performing Arts Center.
The Morris Educational Foundation.

The Steve Wiley statue, funded by private donations, will be dedicated by the Morristown & Morris Township Library on Saturday, July 10, 2021, at 5 pm.

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3 COMMENTS

  1. He sounds like an amazing man. I grew up in morris township and went through the merger of school districts. One of the reasons I decided to raise my kids here is due to the diversity of the two towns. But, I don’t understand what Assumption had to do with the merger. I am not an Assumption parishioner by the way. I’m guessing Kevin will not allow this post for some reason.

  2. One of a kind, that was Steve Wiley, and we are all the better for his time on earth. It is so fitting that he will stand on the lawn of the library that he helped to support, as he was a literary man, a creator of words himself, in the books he wrote, but also in the words he delivered in courtrooms and other public spaces, always on the side of justice, of progress, of tolerance, of unity. He was so often the right man in the right place, or, perhaps it was that he created that place in order to do the right thing. I was at his side in his efforts to save the New Jersey State Board of Higher Education, a case we lost despite being, decidedly, on the right side. He was a good-humored man, a clever and vastly intelligent man, a good man, a tender father and grandfather, a loyal and generous friend, an outstanding citizen. Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey and beyond are in his debt. It is fitting that we have a monument to remember this monumental man.

  3. As a 43 resident of Morristown, 1952-1995, bringing up our children who graduated from the Morristown public schools, I well remember the respected and loved name of Steve Wiley and I am pleased that he is being so honored in Morristown with his statue being dedicated as reported. Along with Mr. Wiley, many dedicated citizens such as our close friends, the late Dr. and Mrs. Carl Thurmond, worked hard on the integration of the schools back “then.” and we supported this issue with all our hearts and theirs. It was indeed Land Mark!

    Morristown comes through again for it’s kindness and recognition of such accomplishments as Mr. Wiley’s.

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