The worldsa国际传媒檚 tallest gnome needs a new home.
Howard, the iconic eight-metre gnome, has stood tall along the Island Highway near Nanoose Bay since 1998, when he was built by Ron Hale. Howard was used as the mascot for the amusement park that Halesa国际传媒檚 family once owned at the property that is now a Chevron gas station.
Halesa国际传媒檚 granddaughter, Bridget Matewish, says the new property owners will tear Howard down if hesa国际传媒檚 not moved by April 30.
About four or five months ago, Matewish, who lives behind the gas station, noticed caution tape was put up around Howard and that there was moss growing on him.
sa国际传媒淗e hadnsa国际传媒檛 been in the greatest repair,sa国际传媒� she said.
After speaking with representatives from the gas station, Matewish said they told her they were thinking of tearing Howard down.
sa国际传媒淚 went to them with the idea that we would fundraise the money and my husband and I would take him down, repair him and put him back, it wouldnsa国际传媒檛 cost them anything,sa国际传媒� Matewish said. sa国际传媒淗e means a lot to my family and I think to the community.sa国际传媒�
After several back and forth conversations about how to go about repairing Howard, the new owners agreed to let Matewish and her husband repair the gnome, and they even said theysa国际传媒檇 cover all the costs.
sa国际传媒淭hey didnsa国际传媒檛 want to have to go the fundraising route,sa国际传媒� Matewish said. sa国际传媒淭he talk started with the engineering and getting the (building) permitting in placesa国际传媒� and then things kind of just stalled a little bit.sa国际传媒�
Matewish said she received a letter last Tuesday from the property owners saying due to legal reasons they are no longer moving forward with the refurbishment of the gnome.
Matewish instantly took to social media to tell Howardsa国际传媒檚 story and appeal to the public to help find him a new home.
sa国际传媒淲e would love to see him stay where he is because itsa国际传媒檚 been his home forever but we would rather see him standing than not at all so wesa国际传媒檇 love to find him a new home where hesa国际传媒檒l be appreciated and taken care of,sa国际传媒� she said.
Howard was a labour of love for Matewishsa国际传媒檚 grandfather. Hale, who passed away a year and a half ago, built Howard in his garage using scraps he found around the property.
In 2009, Howard was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records as the .
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sa国际传媒淚t took him probably a year to build it,sa国际传媒� Matewish said. sa国际传媒淚 do think that [Howard] deserves to be in a place where he can be loved and still cherished and people can still take photos with him.sa国际传媒�
Matewish said her social media post has received close to 1,000 shares and has already garnered interest from individuals willing to home Howard.
sa国际传媒淲e do have a few places that are interested, theysa国际传媒檙e not in the (Parksville Qualicum Beach) area, which is where we would really like to keep him, preferably,sa国际传媒� Matewish said.
Matewish said she and her aunts and uncles plan to get together later this month to go over all inquiries they receive for Howard and discuss the best options for the gnome.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e going to take the time to really think about it, wesa国际传媒檙e not going to jump to a decision because he is really important,sa国际传媒� she said.
Matewish said shesa国际传媒檚 already received dozens of comments from individuals who had fond memories of Howard.
A rare encounter with a member of a mythical race.
sa国际传媒� Kim Cattrall (@KimCattrall)
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