In Terre Haute, the Purple Eagle has finally landed

Mar. 7—A regal Purple Eagle sculpture finally has landed at its permanent home honoring the former Garfield High School, which closed in 1971.

The installation took place Thursday morning at Purple Eagle Plaza located at 12th Street and Maple Avenue in the 12 Points neighborhood.

"I can't believe how beautiful it is," said Susan Mardis, co-chair of a committee that has spent about four years on the Purple Eagle Plaza project.

She's seen the sculpture before, but found it especially impressive after installation.

To finally see the giant eagle in place brought "a big sigh of relief and a sigh of happiness," said Mardis, a 1971 Garfield graduate.

It brought back many memories, she said, and much gratefulness to those who assisted with the project.

A dedication of the plaza is scheduled for sometime in June, with a date still to be determined, Mardis said.

The project "says a lot about a lot of great people who attended here, who worked here — it sums it all up," Mardis said.

The high school opened on Sept. 3, 1912 and closed in 1971 when Garfield and Gerstmeyer Technical High School were consolidated into what would become Terre Haute North Vigo High School.

Also onsite Thursday was artist Bill Wolfe, who created the hollow cast bronze sculpture, which weighs 1,500 pounds and has some slight purple tinting. The eagle rests on a concrete base.

He completed the giant raptor a few years ago and hadn't seen it recently while it was in storage. He, too, described it as a relief to finally have it installed.

"I was glad to see it. After this long of a time, it was almost like looking at something someone else did," Wolfe said. "It was pretty neat. ... I couldn't wait to get it installed and step back and look at it and go, 'Wow.' It looks as good as I thought it was going to look."

Michael Shaw of Earl Rodgers Associates oversaw the installation.

The plaza is still being completed and will include landscaping, stones dedicated to the three Olympians and benches, Mardis said.

The project involved raising $100,000 and that goal has been met, Mardis said.

People could purchase bricks, including larger stones made of limestone, which provide a vivid history of those who attended and worked at the school, including: Gold Medal Olympian Terry G. Dischinger; Willard "Coach" Kehrt; the 1968-69 basketball team; class of 1955 officers; teachers; and many others.

"It's a very good tribute to the education we got here, the athletes, the artists, the musicians — everyone who was even a tiny part of Garfield High School," Mardis said. "A lot of great people graduated from Garfield and have made a difference in the world."

Three Olympians attended Garfield: the late Clyde Lovellette, Greg Bell and the late Dischinger. Lovellette won for basketball in 1952, Bell for track and field in 1956 and Dischinger for basketball in 1960.

Dischinger, who died in October 2023, co-chaired the committee for Purple Eagle Plaza.

Bricks are still available for purchase, Mardis said, and those interested can contact her by email at smardis579@gmail.com.

Funds raised go through the Wabash Valley Community Foundation.

A prior memorial dedicated in 1983 is being incorporated into Purple Eagle Plaza.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com. Follow Sue on X at @TribStarSue.