Brookeville in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Brookeville Angel

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 20, 2006

1. Brookeville Angel Marker

Inscription.
Sculptor Stefan Saal created the Brookeville Angel over a three-month period in 1994 from a white oak tree (Quercus alba) located on the east side of Georgia Avenue (Rt. #97) south of town. "Father Don" (Donald Van Alstyne) of the Marian Fathers Novitiate had commissioned the sculpture to commemorate the Town of Brookeville's Bicentennial celebration that year. The sculpture represents the artist's depiction of the Archangel Gabriel and is dedicated to "All of God's Children."

Unforeseen circumstances led to the removal of the Brookeville Angel from its original location and its subsequent storage for several years in a local barn. The Brookeville Town Commissioners recovered the sculpture from storage and had it moved to its present site on the grounds of the Brookeville Academy in 1998. Stefan Saal supervised the moving and erection of the angel and constructed its base. The project was assisted by a generous memorial bequeath from Francis McIntire.

Stefan Saal also sculpted "Phoenix" in 1991 from a white oak tree where it now resides in Wheaton Regional Park.

“ I'm trying to make a wonderful thing here and to make
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it wonderful, it has to be full of wonder. Nowadays, we live in a country where people are very color conscious. They are conscious about their ethnicity. If you're making something for everyone, how do you make it so it doesn't exclude anyone? ” —Stefan Saal

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1994.

Location. 39° 10.83′ N, 77° 3.494′ W. Marker is in Brookeville, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It can be reached from High Street (Maryland Route 97) just south of Market Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5 High Street, Brookeville MD 20833, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

The Brookeville Angel<br>by Stefan Saal image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 20, 2006

2. The Brookeville Angel
by Stefan Saal

of this marker: Newlin’s Mill Millstone (within shouting distance of this marker); Brookeville Academy (within shouting distance of this marker); A Refuge (within shouting distance of this marker); Brookeville (within shouting distance of this marker); August 26, 1814 (within shouting distance of this marker); Gassaway House (within shouting distance of this marker); Margaret Brooke House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Thomas House Site (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brookeville.

More about this marker. Marker is on the lawn of the Brookeville Academy Community Center.

Regarding Brookeville Angel. The multicolored inscription carved at the base of the statue reads “For you are greatly beloved,” a reference to the Book of Daniel.

Also see . . . Brookeville, Maryland: Terrifying Brookeville Angel (Gone). Roadside America website entry (Submitted on March 15, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Additional commentary.
1. Angel Removed
"The angel has currently been removed for renovation. The Brookeville Angel continues to suffer from long-term

Close Up of the Angel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 20, 2006

3. Close Up of the Angel

exposure to the elements. The base is deteriorating from insect damage and the whole sculpture is rotting according to Pogo Sherwood. Pogo has stepped in again to help save the sculpture which is carved from a white oak. He contacted sculptor, Stefan Saal, and, based on his advice is drying out the angel in one of his greenhouses in Brookeville. Pogo estimates that if the Angel can be safely moved to a suitable indoor location it may last another 10-15 years." -- Town of Brookeville Website

— Submitted April 4, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 20, 2006

4. Close Up of the Angel

Brookeville Angel Wayside Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 2, 2014

5. Brookeville Angel Wayside Marker

Angel Removed

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 2, 2014

6. Angel Removed

Brookeville Angel site, 2023 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Larry Gertner, May 9, 2023

7. Brookeville Angel site, 2023

Nothing remains but this bare patch and the wayside

Credits. This page was last revised on February 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,492 times since then and 79 times this year. Last updated on February 17, 2026, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 20, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 5, 6. submitted on April 4, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 7. submitted on May 13, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of the Phoenix • Can you help?