Pegasi (plural of Pegasus) to fly from Reader’s Digest cupola

January 8, 2010
by Christine Yeres

The four Art Deco winged half-horses that anchor the four corners of the iconic Reader’s Digest cupola will fly out of New Castle along with Reader’s Digest later this year.  According to Gray Williams, New Castle town historian, “the Pegasus (plural: Pegasi) was chosen by Lila Wallace herself, as the symbol of poetic imagination and creativity,” over the architect’s preference for American eagles. Williams is not happy at the idea of losing them.

Geoff Thompson of Thompson and Bender, spokesperson for property owner Summit Greenfield, explained that the issue of the horses “didn’t spring up during the [Reader’s Digest] bankruptcy [this summer],” but was instead “part of the sale and purchase agreements signed in 2004, when Reader’s Digest sold the property to Summit Greenfield.”

The bronze Pegasi constitute a kind of art installation, stated Williams, who said he could understand taking individual pieces of art, which Reader’s Digest expects to do also, but not the exterior set of sculptures.  Williams would have liked to see both the main building of Reader’s Digest as well as the Thomas Wright House at the corner of Bedford Road land marked for posterity.  Over this past summer, Summit Greenfield declined to seek landmark status for both, assuring town board members and the town historian that there was no need to landmark since Summit had no plan to make any changes. 

It is not known at this point in time whether the four Pegasi will find quarters at Reader’s Digest’s new space in White Plains or in New York City, or distributed between both locations. 

At ground level, a change of name for Reader’s Digest Road is in store. Reader’s Digest has agreed to work with the New Castle and foot the bill for a change in name to one reasonably acceptable to owner Summit Greenfield.