It doesn’t take a resident of North Castle to recognize its largest and most iconic landmark – a roughly 12 by 40-foot metallic eagle. To this day, we still hear “turn right or turn left at the Eagle” as common directions for motorists driving on Route 22. This local legend of a monument was first constructed nearly fifty years ago to celebrate America’s bicentennial in 1976 and is finally receiving the structural reinforcement it needs and deserves.
Susan Shimer, former North Castle Town Judge, and former President of the North Castle Historical Society, who witnessed the original erection, stated, “It brought out people in a way I had never seen before and haven’t seen since. It symbolizes a togetherness, a common interest, and a sense of community.”
At the time, the statue was originally intended to be a temporary installation that would actually fly over Route 22 rather than sit next to it and was built using primarily wooden supports. The impermanence of such materials has provided opportunities for local volunteer contractors to bring construction to the next level.
“It’s fantastic,” commented North Castle Town Supervisor, Joseph Rende, “The energy and the enthusiasm they all share has been overwhelming.”
These teams will be using a combination of concrete, galvanized steel and a series of low-energy, LED lighting fixtures to create a new and improved viewing experience that will be as beautiful and impressive as it is sustainable and strong. Weather permitting, this project is expected to be completed within the following few months and ushered in with a firework-lit celebration in the planning stages for the fourth of July weekend. Having such a solidified role in this community’s identity, it’s no surprise that the Eagle and its preservation are a significant priority. According to Supervisor Rende, however, that should not be a concern again – at least not in our lifetime.
