Raleigh, North Carolina: Muffler Man: Giant Decorator Man

The muffler man referred to in Raleigh and Rolesville is one and the same. He has multi-tasked, as a paint can man and muffler man. He is privately owned and stands alongside US 401N. Sporting a fresh coat of paint, he may be in the way of the new Interstate 540 Beltline construction around Raleigh. I don't think the DOT has decided whether Paint-Can Man (as he is locally called), is going to have to be moved.

He's just standin' there, in some guy's front yard, on Highway 401 north of Raleigh, near the town of Rolesville. [Joshua Lucas, 4/30/97] He's living under the alias "The Decorator" last seen on the job holding a paint tray and roller outside of a now-defunct business on Capital Blvd. in Raleigh. [Elise Hooper, 7/21/98] There's one of these guys on U.S. 401 northeast of Raleigh in front of a business called Bradshears that sells dirt, sand and mulch. When my daughter was young, she used to call him "Tall Bunion." I believe he's wearing blue overalls and a yellow shirt. [Tom Mather, 9/6/98] When I was a kid, Giant Decorator, on what is now Capitol Blvd., had one of these guys -- a Paul Bunyan type I believe. It is listed as missing. There is currently a Paul Bunyan type standing in a field on US 401 NE of Raleigh. The list shows TWO of these guys on 401 in the same general area It's almost got to be the same one. I would be willing to bet this is also the missing Giant Decorator guy. [Jeff DeWitt, 2/3/00] A company in Raleigh, NC called Giant Builders, now long out of business, sported a "Paul Bunyon" type figure on it's roof. After seeing your interest in these giants, I remembered that I had seen the figure fairly recently north of town. My wife and I decided to put other chores aside and go have a look. The figure still stands on privite property just off NC401 about 6 miles north of NC440. That's about 8 miles north of its original location. The giant originally held a shovel, and the hands still in that position. Close inspection shows what appears to be a Paul Bunyon style bill-less hat with a bill added to make it look more like a ball cap. [Les Parker, 8/13/00]