Whisper The Bull Statue Renovation Complete

SMITHTOWN, NY — Smithtown history was celebrated when Town officials re-dedicated Whisper the Bull with a newly-renovated statue on Tuesday.

"I'm pleased to rededicate Whisper to the community, almost a year after a car accident damaged the masonry and landscape surrounding the Bull," Supervisor Ed Wehrheim said via press release. "This monument represents our roots… and preserving it ensures the legend of our Town’s beginning will carry on throughout future generations."

The custom-made wall and Smithtown Sign was made using travertine stone, used by stone masons dating back to Ancient Egypt. The lanterns above the wall were designed to replicate the original lamps from 1941, when the statue of Whisper was first erected.

Plans for the restoration were led by the Town of Smithtown Parks Department, Traffic Safety, and the Planning Department. The landscaping was designed by the Smithtown Parks Department and David Barnes, assistant director of the Planning Department and one of the top landscape architects in the region.

Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick, Assemblyman Steve Engelbright, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Legislators Leslie Kennedy and Rob Trotta, and descendant of the legendary Bull Rider, Nissequogue Mayor Richard Smith, were all on-hand at the ceremony, joining Wehrheim.

"We live in such a beautiful community, our villages, our parks," Smith said. "We are family. And not only are we here today embracing our heritage, but we’re embracing our future."

In addition to the bull renovations, the Town also unveiled two historic roadside markers that map out Richard Smith’s bull ride to set the town’s limits. The two Legends and Lore Roadside Markers were paid for thanks to two grants, funded by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. The Kings Park Heritage Museum helped secure these grants for the Town.