ROCKY VS ROOSTER
In Silver Bay, Minnesota sits a statue that “honors the genius of those who figured out how to change a useless rock into a valuable product.” His name is Rocky Taconite. He is this cheery little dude who holds a pick and wear’s a miners hat and greets all passersby that enter Silver Bay via County Rd. 5 or Outer Drive or whatever you want to call it. Built in 1964, Rocky is a symbol of the transition from taconite to steel. To me, he is a reminder that MLBDoggy is about to vomit in the back seat of the family car. She usually gets car sick every time we go to Silver Bay, and in front of Rocky is her favorite puking spot.
I think that MLBMommy might have a secret crush on Rocky. Her personal image on her google mail account is of Rocky’s smiling face. Odd? Yeah.
In Two Harbors, Minnesota, in front of a gift shop, sits a eight foot tall rooster. Yep, it really does. The rooster is made of fiberglass and was erected in the 1960’s when the gift shop owner had a choice between similar statues of a dinosaur, a bear, or a horse. Now why did he choose a rooster? MLBDaddy thinks its because he wanted everyone to marvel at the size of his… chicken. Anyways, the rooster is pretty sweet. Two of the town’s most major news stories over the past 20 years have centered around the thievery of the rooster. In 1997, the rooster was stolen by a rival graduating class and the newspaper ran with the headline “12 Foot Cock Stolen.” In 2003, the rooster was again stolen and driven 20 minutes south to Duluth where it was thrown off an overpass of I-35 and crashed to its demise. The rooster had to be replaced as a result of this tragic act.
So what’s cooler, Rocky Taconite or the Two Harbors Rooster? I know I might take some flack from the family on this one, but I have to go with the Two Harbors Rooster. I’m all for things that have no rhyme or reason for existing yet are still well known by people all over the world. The rooster is basically the only thing that the city of Two Harbors has going for it, and without it I can’t think of another quality reason to live there.
11 responses so far ↓
jenny // February 28, 2008 at 2:31 am
good research on this post.
while i agree with you that there are few quality reasons to live in two harbors, i disagree on what is cooler. i’m voting for rocky.
why? his name is rocky. he is so damn sturdy he can’t be stolen. he’s got a cute smile. i’m from the bay and he’s our man…or wait, maybe he’s just mlbmommy’s man?
Tony Gjerdahl // February 28, 2008 at 3:37 am
I can’t imagine why anyone would want to choose one over the other. I mean they go so well together–2 balls and 1 cock.
TY // February 28, 2008 at 4:11 am
A large rooster is one of the benefits of living in both harbors…the other reason is that I live there, dah…I have to vote for the big Rooster!
Kim // February 28, 2008 at 4:17 am
umm… i think there was a reason that rooster got thrown off the overpass.
Anonymous // February 28, 2008 at 1:14 pm
i disagree. entirely. if you live in two harbors because of that stupid rooster that is not an appropriate reason.
Wayne // February 28, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Well I definitely have to say Rocky. Gotta stick for the hometown!! Just another tidbit of info to add…my best friends Dad won the big contest back then to name Rocky. She had a new little brother at the time and they were so thrilled with the prize money that the little boy was nicknamed Rocky. YES true story!!!!
mlbgrandma
Mel // February 28, 2008 at 3:44 pm
OH MY GOD…I haven’t even read past the title…but Rocky Taconite is SOOOOOO much cooler. The rooster doesn’t even have crap to do with Two Harbors, I will forever have a special (not so nice) nickname for the Agate fa**ots….sorry, Mariner true and true here…now I will actually read the post;)
Mel // February 28, 2008 at 3:49 pm
And now that I’ve read, I’m stickin’ with my first comment. I work in TH, boooorrrrring
Anne // February 28, 2008 at 4:10 pm
My vote is for Rocky Taconite. Although the anecdote about tossing a giant chicken off an overpass is amusing to think about.
libby // February 28, 2008 at 4:24 pm
hands down…my boy-rocky!!!!
gosh i miss living in a town with rocky!
GREAT post!
jessica // March 1, 2008 at 5:27 am
i’m going against the grain here. when i was a little kid we went to duluth and i looked forward to seeing the rooster. it was our marker for halfway and we got as excited about it as we got about seeing ronald mcdonald. so the rooster gets my vote. i have absolutely no opinion about either of them as an adult. i asked my husband (an sb-er) and i quote “they’re both stupid”.