Garner, North Carolina - White Deer, Famous Albino

Garner, North Carolina - White Deer

Since I'd never seen Garner's stuffed White Deer in any of the various locations she's been displayed in before (like Garner High School, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, or the storage room at the public works department) I figured maybe I'd better go see her at her current digs before she's vandalized again or moved back to the storage room for her own safety.

The Little Storytelling House, her new (and supposedly permanent) home isn't in the newly created White Deer Park, where I guess you'd expect to find it, but across the street in Lake Benson Park. The house itself is just a little 12 ft x 12 ft room with lots of windows and a locked front door, where you can peer in and see the taxidermied remains of White Deer.

There are new motion lights and an alarm system installed after White Deer's recent torching -- I'd heard there was going to be new security put in, and I was kind of hoping to see the deer surrounded by a tangle of red laser beams like the alarm system in every jewel heist movie you've ever seen. The hotly debated climate control, which was opposed by some aldermen and residents because of the costs involved, is evidently just a window unit air conditioner.

In the photo, check out the burn mark on her rear leg -- I guess that was something the taxidermist couldn't fix. [Dean Jeffrey, 08/09/2005]

[RA: Or perhaps a scar left to remind all of the incendiary event....]

Garner, North Carolina - Town Mascot Arsons Hunted After Albino Deer Torched
Garner, North Carolina's "White Deer" was set on fire by unknown criminals at 4 am Friday, June 10, according to local news accounts. The stuffed albino doe was a town mascot that became even more beloved after her death from an automobile encounter in 2001.... [06/10/2005] Complete News Story

Garner, North Carolina - Albino deer, town mascot, put on posthumous display
The simply named "White Deer," a 2-year old albino deer adopted by the town of Garner as a mascot, was killed when struck by an automobile in late 2001. In November 2002, she reappeared in town -- stuffed and on exhibit at Old Garner High School.... [11/30/2002] Complete News Story