Well her official name we’re told is Katie Sue. You could say that Katie Sue is what made us first take notice of the house.
Shortly after we moved into our first home two streets over we starting taking walks in the neighborhood. We remember walking by the house that is now ours thinking it was really cute and different, partially because there was a 3 foot dinosaur in the front yard draped with Christmas lights.
Over a year and a half later once we were in contact with the owner and started going through the buying process, we had to ask about it. Turns out the woman who owned the house is a public defense lawyer. Katie Sue (along with some other eclectic items in the house) were gifts made and given to her by the inmates she defended. She told us that it took ten large inmates to load Katie Sue into the truck.
One fateful day months before we owned the house, Stephen and I walked over to find Katie Sue crumbled in a heap in the front yard. We’re not sure if she was hit by a car from one of the people working on the house, or if time and weather had finally taken its tole on her. We were sad because we kind of wanted to keep her in the backyard. I mean, who else has a three foot inmate-made dinosaur lawn decoration?
Even though we weren’t able to save her, Katie Sue’s legacy will live on as a neighborhood legend. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had the following conversation with people around the Square.
Us: We’re buying a house over on Northcutt.
Them: Oh really? Which one?
Us: It’s the storybook cottage on the right if you’re coming from the Square.
Them: Uh, huh….
Us: It’s blue with a white chimney and a red rounded front door.
Them: Hmm…
Us: It’s right across from the entrance to that newer neighborhood.
Them: Ok…
Us: It used to have a dinosaur in the front yard.
Them: Oh yeah! The dinosaur house! I know that one!
So here’s to Katie Sue. Thanks for grabbing our attention!
[...] What’s with the dinosaur? [...]