Page 10 - 2007 Lake St. Clair Guide Magazine
P. 10
A 25 year historical an Octopus head with legs. Jim thought Red Wings mascot. It was taken down
landmark on our Lake the Octopus would be a great joke since one season and it followed the Red
may be gone... Atpress he’s by the water. Wings team after their last Stanley
Cup fro m Detroit to away games on a
time, the “Octopus House” was For This was also around the time of the traile r.
Sale. Since the potential new owners’ “Jaws” movies so he added a mermaid for
wife may not be as big hearted as the the serpent to eat. This mermaid was a I was told that Mrs. Gibbons wasn’t
previous owner’s wife, I felt a story mannequin fro m Prieh’s in Mt. Clemens embarrassed about having an octopus
may be in order. If the octopus re- (for those of us who remember the depart- on her roof. She thought her husband
mains, its history still is worth sharing ment store downtown). The mermaid Jim was crazy to have it, but also
to the thousands of boaters who cruise deteriorated over time and was removed. thought it was fun too.
Metro Beach and know this well
known house. The Octopus was originally green, and Mr. Gibbons knew it brought a lot of
had eyes that lit up. Once the Red Wings joy to the kids (and I know adults like
The Octopus House was owned by came back into power, the Gibbons’ no- us too) that went by on the boats each
Mr. & M rs. Jim and Dorothy Gibbons. ticed the Wings’ Octopus was purple, so summer. He took it down every 3-5
Jim, who survived his wife, passed they changed theirs. years for some fresh paint, otherwise it
away in 2005 at the age of 82. Jim & has been on the roof of this house year
Dorothy attended St. Mary’s High The Gibbons’ Octopus then became the round for about 25 years.
School in Mt. Clemens. Jim was a
baker, and owned Gibbons Bakery in Finally, Lake St. Clair T-Shirts!
Mt. Clemens until he retired and sold
the bakery in the 1980’s.
Since 1971, the Gibbons family lived White Hanes T-Shirts available in Men/Women S, M, L, XL,
in this house on Huron Pointe Drive in 2XL, 3XL. Great Lakes are in BLUE. All wording
Harrison Township, located on the “W e are the H eart of the G reat L akes” & our lake is in RED
Black Creek, which is in front of Met-
ropolitan Beach. Send $25.00 which includes shipping & handling to
Lake St. Clair Guide, 7571 Dyke Rd., Fair Haven, MI 48023.
The Octopus actually came by acci-
dent. Jim’s son-in-law used to spray Ships within 2 weeks!
urethane foam for a living. The foam
expands and as he was cleaning his
tools, the foam came out looking like
The author, publisher, or seller assumes no liability with respect to the use of informat ion contained herein. Page 10
