Sybil Rides Off … for Some Pampering

The Sybil Ludington statue was recently removed from its home for the past 65 years, to undergo restoration work. She is expected to be back in several weeks.

By Holly Crocco

You may notice something amiss when driving along Gleneida Avenue in the hamlet of Carmel these next several weeks.

Sybil Ludington is no longer watching over the lake.

But her removal is only temporary, as the statue was lifted April 27 to undergo restoration work.

“Over a year ago, during my State of the County address, I shared our commitment to ‘Save Sybil’ and launch a restoration effort to bring her back to her former beauty,” said Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne. “I’m grateful to everyone who helped make this possible – philanthropist George Whipple and the Daughters of the American Revolution for their generous support, the County Legislature for backing the restoration through our capital plan, and the taxpayers of Putnam County for their continued commitment to preserving our local history.”

Anna Hyatt Huntington sculpted the bronze statue in Ludington’s honor, which was dedicated in 1961. It depicts the teenager holding a stick and shouting a warning while sitting astride on her horse Star. Cast in bronze and mounted on a fieldstone pedestal, the statue is one-and-one-third times life-size.

The statue will now undergo restoration, and is anticipated to be returned – fully restored – in time for Putnam to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary of Independence on July 4.

“She’ll be out for about six to eight weeks being restored,” explained Putnam County Historian Jennifer Cassidy. “She’ll get a nice new patina and finishing, so she’ll be back up and glorious at her spot where everyone adores her.”

The weekend prior to her removal, members of the 5th New York Regiment joined Whipple, Byrne, Cassidy, members of Putnam Arts Council, the Revolutionary Putnam County 250 Advisory Committee, and others to rededicate the 1999 site-specific installation by Eric A. Arctander that highlights the 40-mile route the heroine rode April 26, 1777, to rally local militia as British troops advanced from Danbury.

“This artist, in a modern, moving way… with these plaques along her ride, created a very subtle reminder of this heroic woman and her heroic ride,” said Whipple. “I always wanted to get a plaque up to memorialize him so people know his name and that he kept Sybil alive.”

According to Joyce Picone of PAC, the artist, who lived in Putnam Valley, “was always in love with history, as well as art.”

It was 249 years ago that Sybil Ludington is said to have ridden through the night to rally her neighbors during the American Revolutionary War.

Ludington (1761–1839) grew up in Putnam County in what is now Kent (or Ludingtonville). Later in life, she married Edmond Ogden – who served in the Revolution – raised a family, and became a businesswoman, running a tavern in Catskill. She is buried in Maple Avenue Cemetery in Patterson.