Time's About Up for Berwyn's Spindle

Let's file this under Walgreens strikes again.

One of Berwyn's biggest tourist draws, other than the fact it has a lot of the famous Chicago bungalow houses and, of course, Route 66, is the spindle in a strip mall parking lot. Now, this is not a normal-sized spindle. It has eight cars from the 70s and early 80s attached to it and rises to 40 feet. I understand, a sizable quantity of pigeon droppings has built up since it was constructed about twenty years ago.

Depending upon who you talk to, it's either an eyesore or an "art icon" or, at least, something mighty interesting to look at.

It will have to be removed some time this summer to make way for a new Walgreens.

The "Spindle" as it is called has been featured on a book cover, radio beer ad, and Wayne's World.

Berwyn Mayor Michael O'Connor is a big fan of it. Currently, it resides in a concrete parking lot at Cermak Plaza at Harlem Avenue and Cermak Road. Efforts are underway to relocate and refurbish it. Estimates have this costing in excess of $350,000.

The artist who made it, Dustin Shuler, was always sure it'd be removed at some point, so he got an agreement that it would be left up for at least ten years. "In hindsight I should have asked for 20 years."

"One of the owners of the land, David Bermant, an art collector who commissioned the sculpture, wanted his own vehicle, a silver BMW bearing the license plate "DAVE" to be on top. But the artist insisted on crowning the structure with a red Volkswagen Beetle-'The cherry on top,' he called it--and put Bermant's vehicle second.'

David Bermant died in 2002, but said earlier that he wasn't completely sure if the "Spindle" was the reason why his shopping center was doing well while others in the area weren't.

In 1990, Berwyn residents voted overwhelmingly against its continued presence. Some people think the $350,000 would be better spent on other projects. Others agree it is not very pretty, but is one of the most-photographed objects in town. Berwyn police initiate rookies by sending them out to investigate "an eight-car pile-up" at Cermak and Harlem. Who says cops don't have a sense of humor?

The Berwyn Arts Council intends to launch a campaign to save the "Spindle".

I am quite involved with Route 66 and, even though it isn't on the old road, many make a detour to see and photograph this interesting object.

I Vote to "Save the Spindle". --RoadDog