Birthplace of the flamingo will go the way of the dodo

The pink flamingo began as an emblem of suburban style, faded as a symbol of ultimate tackiness, and re-emerged as a showpiece of kitschy-cool . Now, it's facing extinction.

The flamingo's maker, Union Products of Leominster, is scheduled to close Nov. 1, the victim of soaring energy and material costs, according to published reports. Dennis Plante, Union's chief executive, couldn't be reached for comment. For a half-century, the company has made a variety of plastic lawn ornaments, but none ever fired the imagination like the flamingos, which sell for less than $10 each.

Designed by Don Featherstone of Fitchburg, whose signature beneath the tail proves authenticity, the ornament went into production in 1957. Like other popular cultural icons, flamingos have had their ups and downs. But through it all, Featherstone has steadfastly disagreed that they are tacky, insisting they would add style to any lawn.

In Union's hometown, flamingos are a point of pride, said Mayor Dean Mazzarella, noting there's hardly a resident who hasn't been asked, "Can you get me a few flamingos?"

The Featherstone flamingo, meanwhile, still has a chance to survive, although probably somewhere else. Union plans to sell the molds to another company.

ROBERT GAVIN