Alpena (formerly in Onaway), Michigan - Stainless Steel Eagle

Made by Tom Moran of Moran Iron Works, this sculpture has recently been moved away from the Onaway courthouse due to vandalism. [Shannon, 07/29/2007]

[RA: May 2008: The eagle head is reported relocated in Alpena, MI on Johnson Street near US-23.]

I took this picture a few years ago when the large eagle head was in front of the Moran Iron Works in Onaway and wondered what it was being made for. I kind of expected it was going to the Soaring Eagle Casino in not too far away in Mt. Pleasant. By chance, this morning I found out it ended up being moved just up he road and now sits in front of the old courthouse -- a courthouse that by the way was never used as such. The courthouse was built by one of the city's founders in an attempt to establish Onaway as the Presque Isle County seat. While the effort failed, the courthouse survived and has recently been restored as a museum. Still, though, I can't help but get the impression the giant eagle head was intended for a much larger project... [Richard Weiss, 09/02/2005]