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Groundhog Day, Phamous Phallic Phil and other Statues Around Town

By John McCormick  

A few years back there was a contest for artists to design and create different Punxsutawney Phil statues and today you can see these large statues in front of businesses all around town.

Yet another bank Phil known by some as Rainy Day Phil (as in save for a...). I refer to him as Penny Pincher Phil.

I call this one Phil Big Bucks - he is behind a bank by the drive through. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

Another Phil I refer to as Penny Pincher Phil - he is in front of yet another bank. For a small town Punxsutawney has a lot of banks, about a 1:1 ratio with fast food joints. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

One of the most notorious Phil statues is referred to locally as "Phallic Phil." I'll let you decide why and put the location at the bottom of this story so you can guess where they placed this one.

Phallic Phil from another angle and before they planted the shrubs to cover his brave new parts. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

This one was taken earlier this week - it isn't so clear - and shows a strategically placed thorn bush.

Phallic Phil is one of the big mysteries around town. Just what was the artist thinking, and why didn't the sponsor notice. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

In this photo you can clearly see how Phallic Phil got his name and probably why he has such a big smile!

Phallic Phil showing some strategic bush landscaping which is a lot bigger in warm weather. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

This is the Phil statue which sits in front of the Weather Museum housed in the old Post Office building. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

Another look at Big Wind Phil in front of the Weather Museum. Here you can see his wizard hat with a bent windvane. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

Going Postal?

When they built a new Post Office they placed this Mail Marmot at the entrance. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

Just down the street from the Weather Museum stands the town's hardware store and Handy Phil. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

Every type of business has taken on one of the Phil statues.

And here is Phil the Pill which sat in front of a now closed drug store. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

On a quiet back street just a block from Barclay Square you will see Pied Piper Phil. I have no idea what the explanation is for this particular statue except possibly that it is behind where the town's music store was for many years. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

A little way out Rt 36 you find this pizza phil who sometimes sports a "Steeler's" jersey. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

Where would a weather marmot be without a newspaper and reporters ready to spread his predictions?

You probably won't see this statue, it is on a back street but it should be obvious what Photo Op Phil represents. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

This is an earlier Phil sign from the front of The Spirit, the local Punxsutawney newspaper. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

The Spirit of Punxsutawney, our local newspaper. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

Have you guessed where Phallic Phil is located? Is there a house of ill repute in Punxy?

Well here is a final photograph taken from an angle where you can see where they decided to place Phallic Phil.

In this photo you can see just where Phallic Phil is located. Highland Ranch Sanctuary, 15767.com

The actual location is just to the side of the Emergency Entrance. By the way, Punxsutawney Hospital is a pretty good small town hospital - don't judge it by Phallic Phil.

By the way, on close inspection you can see that what Phallic Phil is so proud of is actually a flower. A flower, of course is also a sex organ.

For those of you who don't know, Phil the groundhog is technically a Marmota monax, a.k.a. whistle-pig, or wood chuck (as in how much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?)

Groundhogs don't chuck wood, they eat grass, raid gardens, leave dangerous holes in pastures which can break a horse's leg, and make up a good percentage of the local road kill population.

Sorry Phil.

John McCormick is a reporter, /science/medical columnist and finance and social commentator, with 17,000+ bylined stories. Contact John through NewsBlaze.