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Eastern Centennial Walking Tour
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One of Eastern’s most iconic structures is the Eagle Statue that is nestled in the center of campus by the Walton Hall patio. The Eagle was a gift from the Hecht Company, who had acquired the statue after purchasing the John Wanamaker department store in the local Oxford Valley Mall. The Eagle was installed on November 28, 1995.


Eagle Statue

Eagle Statue

Eagle Statue

Eagle Statue

One of Eastern’s most iconic structures is the Eagle Statue that is nestled in the center of campus by the Walton Hall patio. The Eagle was a gift from the Hecht Company, who had acquired the statue after purchasing the John Wanamaker department store in the local Oxford Valley Mall in Bucks County. The Eagle was installed on November 28, 1995.

One of 10 store icons, the Eagle is more than 1,000 pounds of hollow bronze with a 15 foot wingspan. According to Rev. William Zulker, author of John Wanamaker's biography titled John Wanamaker: King of Merchants, the eagle was sculpted by Joseph A. McDonnell in 1973. It was donated in honor of the Eastern Eagle sports teams, and former baseball coach Dan Hare helped Eastern's efforts to obtain the statute. Photographers from The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Main Line Times, and the Wayne Suburban Times were on campus to report on the event, along with news teams from Channels 6 and 10.

Dr. Patricia Reger, one time Dean of the College of Health and Social Sciences, was quoted as saying, "One of my favorite spots is the bronze Eagle that rests in front of Walton. I fondly remember the massive eagle perched in the Grand Court of the Wanamaker department store in Philadelphia on which my siblings and I sat, listening to concerts from the world's largest pipe organ and watching the Christmas light show. Thus, as I pass the Eagle, I retreat to the joyful memories of my childhood and thank God for the precious gift of family."

"Open Spaces." Folder in Eastern University Archives. Located at Warner Memorial Library, Eastern University, St. Davids, PA, 19087.

"Dean's Corner." EASTERN. Fall 2018. https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=7fe9e3b2-b8ce-4bec-bf47-6a6f95c26465/easa0000/20240723/00000030

"Original Artwork on Eastern's St. Davids Campus." Spirit. Spring 2009. https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=dc613349-baaf-4818-a395-e5bc383c9e10/easa0000/20240723/00000058

"Waylaid Wanamaker's Eagle Comes to Roost Near Walton." The Waltonian. Volume 43, Issue 5, December 7, 1995. https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=fc939b89-3753-40ae-8e8c-1b3f77ac7a27/easa0000/20110817/00000602

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