Garfield High School honored with a purple eagle sculpture

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— Tuesday morning, a big piece of Terre Haute history was honored.

Garfield High School was open in Terre Haute from 1912 to 1971. To remember the beloved purple eagle mascot, a sculpture was unveiled today where the high school once stood.

Co-chair of the Garfield Purple Eagle Plaza Susan Mardis said this will allow future generations to better understand more about the school.

“There is a lot of history in this plaza,” said Mardis. “There are people who have done many things, and I think the next generation can come back and see that their grandparents are there, their aunts, their uncles, and people they read about in history and sports books.”

This sculpture also includes the school’s Spirit of 7 to 6 phrase. It represents the football team beating Wiley High School 7 to 6 in 1915 and 1917.

Mardis says she wants people to see how many great things came from Garfield.

“We have a great history here in Terre Haute,” said Mardis. “I think it is very important for us to realize that, and that a lot of it is at Garfield.”

Mardis said the school’s alumnus will always be a family.

“It tells me that they care as much about this school as I do to see all of these people,” said Mardis. “The memories and the history represent that we were a family. The smaller schools were just a family, and it is great to see everybody.”

There were also flags presented to honor the three gold medal winners who are former Purple Eagles.

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