Menconi’s Squirrel Puzzle

The bronze squirrel was created by Raffaello E. Menconi (1877–1942), who studied art in Florence and Rome before immigrating at age 17 from Italy to the United States. He and his brother Giuseppe established a New York studio, where Raffaello worked for 30 years and created architectural decorations for major city landmarks, including the United States Custom House, the Union Club, and the New York Public Library.

From 1919 to 1942, Menconi lived on Riverview Place in Hastings, where he embellished his Tuscan-style home with carved door frames, ornate columns, a peacock sculpture on the garage roof, and a bronze squirrel that inspired locals to nickname the nearby path “Squirrel Alley.” He remained in Hastings until his death.

Hastings Historical Society Trustee Lindsey Taylor photographed and digitally reimagined this beloved sculpture. Raised in Hastings and now happily back in the village, Lindsey is a multidisciplinary creative and a co-producer of the Rivertowns Repair Café.