The giant chicken that roosted over an Easton scrapyard for 16 years has flown the coop.
Easton Iron and Metal scrapyard closed in 2015 and left the popular 10-foot-tall sculpture without a home.
Until now.
It’s in the custody of the Easton Public Works Department, which will soon install it at the Urban Farm on Philadelphia Road on Easton’s South Side.
“We have the urban farm but we don’t have any animals,” said Judy Matthewson, the executive director of the Easton Area Neighborhood Center, which hosts the site that grows veggies.
“This would give us a chicken,” she said.
Sculptor Ron Keefer made the 500-pound clucker in 2000 out of a propane tank, car exhaust parts, springs, fire extinguishers and roofing materials. He got the materials from the scrapyard. When he couldn’t sell it, he brought it back there.
Public Works Director Dave Hopkins said the transfer of the chicken was facilitated by Jim Toia, the director of community-based teaching at Easton’s Lafayette College.
“When it is installed you will be able to pull the tail, making the wings and beak move,” Toia said. Hopkins said the chicken will move when it’s decided whether to put it in the front or to the side of the farm.
Keefer also made a popular sculpture re-creation of Atlas holding up the world. He made it after 9/11 and the two rectangles on its rear represent the Twin Towers.
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That sculpture was moved from the scrapyard to Hugh Moore Park in Easton about four months ago, Hopkins said. You can find it to the left of the bridge you use to cross the Lehigh River to get to the island park. The statue is along a trail that leads to the left near the bridge.
Both statues were donated by the Stein family, owners of the scrapyard for more than 80 years.
“There was no formal request or gifting, just permission to gain access and take the works when convenient,” Toia said.
Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
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