Rutland's new sculpture honors two heroes: Batman and Halloween parade organizer

Article originally published as “Rutland's new sculpture honors two city heroes: Batman and Halloween parade organizer Tom Fagan” by Sid Bewlay

October 25, 2023

NBC 5

RUTLAND, Vt. — The latest addition to Rutland's downtown sculpture trail was unveiled on Wednesday, celebrating one of the city's most beloved traditions.

It honors the Halloween Parade – with a famous masked face for some added star power.

Tom Fagan is the man who brought Batman to the Marble Valley, helping to get Rutland's annual Halloween Parade featured in multiple DC Comics publications in the 1970s.

Learn more about Tom Fagan, known as "Mr. Halloween" in Rutland.

"Tom Fagan, what he brought to the Rutland Halloween Parade is putting it on the map for everyone to enjoy, not just people in Rutland," said Colleen Shattuck, program director, Rutland Parks Dept.

Rutland was featured in more than 20 publications, where superheroes like Batman, Superman, and the Avengers all come to Rutland.

In some, they even save the city's Halloween Parade; all thanks to Fagan and his friends at DC, putting a worldwide eye on the city.

Many describe the city's parade as a deep part of Rutland history.

Now, Fagan and the Caped Crusader stand shaking hands on the corner of West Street and Cottage Street, along the parade route.

"Batman sort of, as Tom said, 80 years of history, he can resonate with all ages," said Mark Foley, MFK Properties, partner of the Rutland Sculpture Trail. "It's just sort of a fun and a neat part of our history."

Plus, the statue is the city's latest statue on its sculpture walk. However, it took years to make it happen — with artists in multiple countries, COVID-19 delays, and pieces breaking off along the way.

"It's been under wraps at the Carving Studio through three seasons and people are really intrigued, but our agreement was to keep it quiet and not visible to the public until this moment," said Carol Driscoll, executive director of the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center.

Now the stature's secret identity has been revealed, showcasing two men who many said embody the strength of Rutlanders, just in time for this year's parade.

"There's just this really free spirit that Rutlanders have," Driscoll said. "They come together in times of need but also in times of fun, joy. I think Tom Fagan had that in his blood as a reporter."

Details for the 2023 Rutland Halloween Parade can be found here.