Paramus, New Jersey - circa 1970s
In my Paramus Park Mall entry of a few days ago, mention was made (via Wiki info) of a large metal turkey statue that sat in one of the mall's courtyards:
"Two small courtyards are at the other leg intersections; one now hosts a carousel, the other the bronze statue of a turkey described below.
The name Paramus comes from the Lenni Lenape Native American word meaning 'land of the wild turkey' or 'place of fertile soil'. That is why there is a giant metal statue of a turkey in the Paramus Park mall."
Thanks (once again) to Charles Freericks, who supplied the photo of the mall for the last post, we now have the above vintage-era shot of the Paramus Park Mall wild turkey statue! It's apparently still there today, btw, albeit now demoted to a more low-key location in the food court on the mall's upper level.To the left is a recent picture of it (2006) I found on Photobucket. Gives a little more perspective on its size, and you can also see a plaque on the display which explains the piece and names its artist (Christopher Parke, I believe).
Mall history: 1974 - present
Current website: here
Developer: The Rouse Company
Current aerial view
Info from Wikipedia
Previous entries: 1
Is it just me, or does it not seem that New Jersey had the swankest malls?
ReplyDeleteisn't Chris Towne Mall is Jersey?
that place is swanktastic.
Cool, a giant turkey with a Native American rider. Every mall should have one.
ReplyDeleteHave a picnic in the park.
ReplyDeleteHave a picnic in Paramus Park.
We make shopping fun again...
once again...
at Paramus Park.
When Paramus Park first opened, there was a huge terraced waterfall in center court (which actually had the water of each ocean poured into it on opening day in 1976). Sadly the renovation of a few years ago took that out.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to peck your eyes out!!!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how I can commission a giant turkey statue in my backyard.
ReplyDeleteAny photos from the 70's? I went there then. Always to the "head-shop"
ReplyDeleteto buy pot incense, black-light posters, and such.
It was there at a car(Jaguar)show that I first laid eyes upon the XJ6.
One of my first jobs was at the "Swiss Colony".
Please post the great theme song: "Have a picnic in the Park" from the 70s.
ReplyDelete"Have a picnic in the Park
ReplyDeleteHave a picnic in Paramus Park
We've made shopping fun again,
fun again, fun again,
Shopping in the Park
Paramus Park."
This same commercial was used for Franklin Park in Toledo, OH, with the words modified slightly. There was also rarely-used verse with a different melody. It went, (approximately):
"It's time that there's a place to shop that's more than just some stores and concrete.
Paramus Park
There ought to be a place where you can get most anything you need
Paramus Park
There ought to be some trees
And a waterfall
A place to get it all
A place to do it all
Now it's here (now it's here)
In the park (in the park)
Now it's here, in the park,
Paramus Park"