Bert The Eagle Moved Into Storage In Long Valley

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Bert the Liberty Eagle has flown the coop: The statue has been moved into storage until a decision can be made on repairs, Washington Township Committeeman Matt Murello said.

Bert has been a topic of discussion at several committee meetings. Rotting within the statue's base made it a fall risk, Murello said, and it was possible it would hurt someone if it toppled.

"The Committee is investigating options for ways to preserve what of the statue that is intact somewhere in town and what, if anything, can be put in the old place," Murello said.

This is not the first time the statue has been damaged. Bert was hit by cars in 2010 and 2014, and was fixed both times. This time, though, Bert might be beyond help.

Shade Tree Committee members who inspected Bert this past spring said the rot damage was so bad the statue was essentially "firewood" and there was just no way to salvage it, the Observer Tribune reported.

The sculpture was created by Harry Robinson and completed in 1999 out of the dying Liberty Tree. It's located at the intersection of Flocktown and Schooley's Mountain Roads.

Image via Washington Township