When John Mannillo sold the Pioneer and Endicott Buildings to the First National Bank in 1981, the New York Eagle was part of the property. Watt Davidson, the previous owner of the Pioneer/Endicott properties, also owned the New York Life building at Sixth and Minnesota streets. The bronze eagle sculpture sat three stories over the main entry way. In 1967, during urban renewal, the New York Life building was torn down. Davidson moved the Eagle to the corner of Fourth and Jackson streets, at ground level. 

The bronze eagle was designed in 1890 by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and sculpted by his brother, Louis. Their best known sculpture is the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.  It was clear to Mannillo and Hoeschler, that the Eagle should be saved. The cost, however, of restoration and future maintenance was considerable.  Jack suggested that Mannillo “quit claim” the Eagle to the City of Saint Paul.  This would make the City the new owner and remove the cost burden for a new owner. Later the property changed hands several times. In the meantime, the City lost the quit claim deed.

At that point, the current owner told Hoeschler he would be happy to see it just disappear. Hoeschler and Mannillo came up with a plan to quietly remove the eagle. They contacted Bert Sandberg, owner of the American Crane Company. They all met one evening after dark to do the deed. When Sandberg saw the one-ton sculpture, he warned us that as soon as it was lifted onto a flatbed truck, the outstretched wings would likely fall off. We needed a plan B.

Eventually the New York Eagle was donated to Public Art Saint Paul, who raised enough funding to restore and relocate the New York Life Eagle to Overlook Park on Summit Avenue, where it is today.