CHICOPEE – Mayor John Vieau and other officials gathered outside of City Hall on Oct. 6 to see the replica of the original raised to the top of the City Hall tower for installation.

The new weathervane is a fiberglass replica of the original bronze and finished in gold leaf.

Vieau said the original weathervane will be exhibited in the renovated auditorium in City Hall.

According to information supplied by mayor’s office, “The eagle was fabricated by the Ames’ Sword Company in Chicopee, which was originally located across the street from City Hall. The foundry was known for fabricating swords during the Civil War and was the first American foundry to develop a proficiency in bronze casting. The company worked with a Brooklyn, NY, based artist, Henry Kirke Brown, on several artistic pieces, but it is unknown if the City Hall eagle is included in their partnership. The eagle is designed similar to the ‘federal eagle’ symbol that was popular with artists in the late 18th century through the 19th century after the bald eagle became a national symbol in 1788. Weathervane fabricators continue to include this design in their catalogues today. The components of the weathervane include the eagle with its approximate seven-foot wingspan that surmounts the upper globe, arrow and spindle assembly, the post, the fixed directional, and the lower globe.”