The bronze statue of James Cash Penney stands in front of Town Hall in the small community of Penney Farms, Florida — a town the department store pioneer himself founded in 1926. For nearly a century, this statue has represented the vision of a man who turned a single store in Wyoming into one of America’s most recognized retail chains.
But Florida’s climate doesn’t care about history.
When we were called to assess the statue, the damage was severe. Years of neglect had allowed oxidation to eat through the protective patina and into the bronze itself. The surface was covered in green corrosion, streaking, and discoloration that had completely obscured the fine detail of the original sculpture. The suit, the face, the hat in Penney’s hand — all of it had been degraded by decades of humidity, salt air carried inland, UV exposure, and rain.
This wasn’t a simple cleaning job. When oxidation penetrates past the patina layer, it actively breaks down the metal. Left untreated, the bronze would have continued to deteriorate until structural damage became irreversible.
Our process started with a thorough assessment of the corrosion depth and the condition of the underlying bronze. We then carefully removed the damaged patina and corrosion using specialized techniques that protect the original casting. Once the surface was clean and stable, we applied a new patina to restore the statue’s rich, warm bronze tones. Finally, we sealed the surface with a protective wax coating designed to withstand Florida’s punishing climate.
The transformation was dramatic. The statue went from a faded, corroded figure to a striking tribute that once again honors the legacy of J.C. Penney and the community he built.
This project is a reminder of why regular maintenance matters for outdoor bronze. Florida’s environment is one of the harshest in the country for metal sculptures. Without periodic cleaning and resealing, even the finest bronze will deteriorate.
If you have a bronze statue, monument, or sculpture on your property or in your community that’s showing signs of oxidation, don’t wait until the damage becomes severe. Contact AGG Bronze Restoration at 561-264-0854 for a free assessment. We serve the entire state of Florida.
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