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All the United States Pennsylvania The Hatfield Moose Family

The Hatfield Moose Family

This family of wooden moose statues have become local celebrities in their hometown.

Hatfield, Pennsylvania

Added By
Lou Farrell
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Summertime Mooses   loufarrell / Atlas Obscura User
Christmas Mooses   loufarrell / Atlas Obscura User
Springtime Moose   loufarrell / Atlas Obscura User
Winter Nacho   loufarrell / Atlas Obscura User
COVID-safe Moose   loufarrell / Atlas Obscura User
Churro, the sweetest of the baby Mooses   loufarrell / Atlas Obscura User
A gift from a Moose fan (always welcome)   loufarrell / Atlas Obscura User
Baby Salsa   loufarrell / Atlas Obscura User
Santa Moose   loufarrell / Atlas Obscura User
Maggie and Nacho v. 1.0   loufarrell / Atlas Obscura User
Salsa hit and run (shortly after closing time at the local tappy)   loufarrell / Atlas Obscura User
The Mooses get lots of mail.   loufarrell / Atlas Obscura User
The Mooses love the Township Acqatic Center   loufarrell / Atlas Obscura User
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About

For more than a decade, at least one plywood moose has stood at the corner of East Orvilla Road and Maple Avenue in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, in the yard of Lou and Cathy Farrell’s farmhouse.

In the early 2000s, the Farrell's vacationed in Nova Scotia and observed numerous moose during hikes in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. When they returned, they decided to make a life-sized plywood moose, which grazed in their backyard for years. Around 2008, after the children teased their parents about their lame Christmas light display, the birthday moose was moved to the front yard and wrapped with about 100 strings of lights, illuminating their corner of Orvilla Road. At the end of the holiday season, the moose returned to the backyard, but community members sent cards and letters asking what happened to the moose and demanding her return to the street. Since then, the moose has become an important landmark and a valued member of the Hatfield community.

A little girl wrote that “she liked to call the Moose Nacho” and hoped that we would too. Work orders for refrigerator repair or oil delivery do not come with a proper address, only “Moose House.” Directions like “turn left at the Moose” are common among Hatfielders. There have been wedding parties that have stopped by for Moose pictures. The Mooses sometimes change hats seasonally.

The Hatfield Moose Family had been embraced by the leaders of the township and was invited to help open the Aquatic Center for the 2022 season. Many selfies were taken, even a group shot with the commissioners. The Mooses make regular appearances on social media, always prompting eager discussion. 

For some reason, Nacho prefers that the plural of moose be “Mooses,” ignoring standard form and capitalization. Why argue over the little things? As the Farrells added grandchildren to their family, Nacho’s family also grew. First Salsa was born, then baby Churro came to form the current Hatfield Moose Family. It seems likely that there will be other Mooses added to this happy group.

Related Tags

Landmarks Local History Statues

Know Before You Go

Nacho, Salsa and Churro graze on private property. Please respect the owners of the place where they live.

Community Contributors

Added By

loufarrell

Edited By

Osage, supee

  • Osage
  • supee

Published

April 13, 2023

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  • https://northpennnow.com/hatfield-landmark-hnacho-the-wooden-mooseh-welcomes-new-calf-hsalsah-to-eas-p4294-95.htm
The Hatfield Moose Family
2240 E Orvilla Rd
Hatfield, Pennsylvania, 19440
United States
40.275991, -75.282064
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