College defends demolition that destroyed two Steubenville murals

STEUBENVILLE -- The College of St. Joseph the Worker is defending its decision to demolish a structure it deemed unsalvageable, including two murals celebrating Steubenville’s past that had been painted on its exterior walls.

The building at 427 Washington St. formerly housed the Elks Lodge.

College officials said they were aware Kyle Holbrook, the artist who restored the Tuskegee Airmen mural last year, complained that the demolition violated his rights under the federal Visual Artists Rights Act.

The law provides protections to creators of qualifying works of visual art, "including certain rights concerning the destruction of their artwork," Holbrook said. He said federal law also establishes specific provisions involving artwork incorporated into buildings, including, under certain circumstances, written notice and a 90-day period during which an artist may have an opportunity to remove or preserve the artwork.

The mural Holbrook worked on celebrated two Steubenville natives who served in the Army Air Corps’ famed 332nd Fighter Group during World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen. The unit was made up of Black aviators whose planes bore distinctive red tails.

The original artwork was done in 2019 by the late Claude "Rusty" Baker.

A second mural, the 1897 Centennial Arch, was painted 34 years ago by artist Eric Grohe, who is now retired.

In a statement, St. Joseph the Worker officials pointed out that theirs is a "higher education institution dedicated to revitalization" that regularly acquires and restores properties throughout the Steubenville community.

"The college acquired the (building) in February 2026 via a Jefferson County Auditor's tax sale following nearly a decade of vacancy and non-maintenance. Upon acquisition, official property records -- including deed documents and municipal records -- contained no restrictive covenants, legal notices, or contact information regarding the mural or the artist," the statement read.

"Despite the college's standard commitment to building restoration, a comprehensive structural assessment revealed severe, long-term degradation. Major roof failures had resulted in collapsed plaster ceilings, standing water, and extensive mold contamination throughout the structure, making restoration unfeasible. Following a series of security breaches at the vacant site in July 2026, the college determined that immediate removal of the hazardous structure was necessary to protect public safety and secure the surrounding neighborhood."

Administrators "proactively engaged local community leaders and ward representatives to share updates regarding the safety hazards and impending site remediation, while the hired contractor secured standard municipal demolition permits," the college said.

"At no point during the acquisition process, structural evaluation, or community outreach was the college made aware of active VARA rights or provided contact information for the artist," it read. "The College of St. Joseph the Worker deeply values the cultural and artistic contributions made throughout Steubenville. While the severe structural compromises made the preservation of the physical building impossible, the College respects the artistic intent of the work and remains committed to being a transparent, constructive partner in the ongoing growth and safety of the community."

Holbrook has said he found out about the demolition "after portions of my artwork had already been torn down." He said the question isn't whether the property should be redeveloped but, rather, "the rights of the artist" and complaints that if he'd been properly notified, "there could have been a conversation about preservation, documentation, removal or other options."