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Lee, Massachusetts: Big Beaver

A big, fat, goofy-looking beaver, sitting on a farm wagon, is the mascot of a self-storage facility.

Beaver Self-Storage

Address:
1455 Cape St., Lee, MA
Directions:
Beaver Self-Storage. Southeast of town. I-90 exit 2, then turn left (east) onto US Hwy 20 and drive around three miles. On the north side of US Hwy 20/Cape St.
Phone:
413-243-2579
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
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Visitor Tips and News About Big Beaver

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Beaver statue.

Giant Beaver

Just a big ol' brown beaver. But it is so goofy looking it makes you laugh. It's not that far off I-90, so it's worth the drive by and pic op.

[Girl Around Town, 07/25/2012]

Big Beaver.

Big Beaver

I guess I have waited long enough for everyone to make their guesses about the "Big Beaver." Now I should set things straight.

My father, Bob Carty, bought the Tivoli Tavern from the Cruise Family about 15 years ago. His construction company, called Beaver Builders (est. 1967), was still in operation. My brother William had just received his auctioneer's license and wished to hold auctions at the location. My brother started the company known as Beaver Auctions and Appraisals. Because of the name of my father's construction company, and because there was a beaver pond out back, the name couldn't have been anything else. Around this time, the main building was made into an antique market, Aka Beaver Antiques.

Back in 1967, My father's sister Susan, did the art work for the original Beaver logo. So, when the new Auction and Antique business was started, my father called his sister again. She was by now an accomplished artist and was having many shows with her Hay Sculptures. Her over-sized animals were a big hit. My father commissioned her to make the "Big Beaver."

The original sculpture was made of a chicken wire frame and was filled with hay. It was placed outside the front of the main building. It was not long before the hay started to degrade, so we spray-painted it brown to try to make it last longer. It was there it made it's home for a few years.

In the meantime, We built self storage units on the property. The Auctions and Antique Market could not hold its own, So the business was changed to simply "BEAVER SELF STORAGE."

At one time we went out to find the Big Beaver had been vandalized. Someone, in the dead of night, and with great patience, removed the entire head. It was then that the Big Beaver was moved inside and in back of the fence where it has remained until now. We tried to rebuild his head and covered the entire sculpture with concrete to prevent any further damage.

Try not to judge him. He has had a rough time. We all should look so good after spending years outside in the weather.

[Matthew Carty, 02/13/2010]

Big Beaver.

Big Beaver

The Big Beaver at Beaver Self Storage is definitely not, as a previous tipster stated, "made out if hay that is starting to compost." It looks like it's concrete, maybe poured over a wire frame, and according to a couple local residents, it's been there for 15 years.

It was also once covered in fake fur, although that's long gone.

[Dean Jeffrey, 08/23/2009]

Beaver statue.

Giant Beaver

The giant beaver at Beaver self storage. The beaver and the property / business where it lives are for sale.

[Ed Messenger, 12/06/2008]

Blobby beaver statue.

Beaver Self-Storage

Beaver Self-Storage has a gigantic Beaver elevated on a wagon right by the side of the road. The beaver resembles a 20-ft tall chocolate Easter bunny, but it's still worth a look.

[Philip Deslippe, 07/23/2007]

Tipster Andy adds: "Nice, big, fat 10-ft high beaver made of hay that is starting to compost."


Nearby Offbeat Places

Santarella - Gingerbread HouseSantarella - Gingerbread House, Tyringham, MA - 3 mi.
Wonder Woman Rosey HouseWonder Woman Rosey House, Lee, MA - 3 mi.
Wally the StegosaurusWally the Stegosaurus, Pittsfield, MA - 11 mi.
In the region:
Easter Island Head with Topknot, Waterbury, CT - 52 mi.

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