by Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — Where has Mussie gone?
A question many people have been asking lately.
The Mussie being referred to is the large, green wooden creature created by Doug Schauer in the 1990s. For years, this beatuiful wooden creation has graced the front patch of lawn at Schauer’s Home Hardware in Cobdden. But, when it was announced the business was sold, it seemed Mussie disappeared as well.
But, Mussie has found a new home. She now sits on the lawn in front of the office of Bona Vista Campground just west of Cobden on Hwy. 17. She can’t be seen from the highway, but once you near the office, she’s as big as life.
Louise Deschambault and her husband, Bob Winkovics, who have owned the campground for 11 years, offered to provide a new home for the creature when they heard the business had been sold. And the offer was accepted — which wasn’t a surprise. Mr. Schauer knew Ms. Deschambault was interested in having Mussie come to her campground some day as a permanent resident.
Mussie disappeared for a few days, because Mr. Schauer decided she needed some tender loving care before she went to her new home.
And then, this past Saturday, the creature was spotted in downtown Cobden and then on Hwy. 17. But, she just didn’t look quite the same. And that’s because she had to be moved in three pieces in two separate trips, noted Ms. Deschambault.
Ms. Deschambault said since the 1800s the story of Mussie the Muskrat Monster residing in Muskrat Lake has been legendary. The last sighting was reported about five years ago.
When the campground celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2008, Mussie was part of the celebration.
“She just looks like she should be here,” Ms. Deschambault said. “Mussie’s story is one we can tell people who come into the park.”
Shortly after noon on Saturday, a flatbed trailer and utility wagon were loaded with the tail and body of Mussie and she was taken to her new home. Then, it was time for the head to be moved, and it was was also paraded through downtown Cobden and along Hwy. 17 to the campground.
Ms. Deschambault noted the guys at Home Hardware were quite helpful in getting Mussie’s body parts onto the trailer by using a forklift.
To get her off the trailer, a pipe was placed beneath each part and it was rolled off, with the help of several people, she said.
“Mussie is now part of the Bona Vista family,” she said.
Mussie also comes with the various changes of the seasons, Ms. Deschambualt said. She has antlers, bunny ears, bat ears and sunglasses.
The campground is shaped like a horseshoe, and Mussie is in the centre of it, close to the lake, Ms. Deschambault said.
Laughing, Mussie’s owner said, she’d like to see Mussie on a raft in the lake at night with glowing eyes.
For now, Mussie looks quite comfortable in her new home and is becoming more famous, as people are getting their photos taken with her.
However, the children have been warned not to climb on her, as she’s fragile and could quite easily break.
When the children hear about Mussie in Muskrat Lake, they wonder if she’s mean. However, Ms. Deschambault is quick to say, “She’s friendly. She’s a herbivore, which means she eats grass and seaweed.”
She also shows the children a painting on a wall just inside the main office door. It shows the layout of the park and Muskrat Lake. And, in that painting, in Muskrat Lake, are three Mussies … mom, dad and baby.
Ms. Deschambault said there are 145 trailer sites at the park. She recalled when she and her husband purchased the park 11 years ago.
“We knew nothing about running a trailer park,” she said. “It was all new to us.”
They had been camping across the lake when they were told the campground was for sale.
“On Monday, we called the real estate agent,” she said.
Over the years, the park has had some tender loving care, repairing and sprucing up. The latest feature is a salt walter pool.
“It’s been a lot of learning,” she said. “But, you know, we’ve enjoyed it. We’ve met people from every walk of life.”
Editor’s Note: Mussie is on the Internet. Google her name, see what comes up.
