Aberdeen, Washington -
Charlie Choker - Chainsawed, not a Muffler Man

The report of a "muffler man" in Aberdeen, WA, is erroneous. "Charlie Choker" looks a lot like a muffler man but he's a wooden statue (the mascot of Grays Harbor Community College) which was carved from cedar using a chainsaw. I believe the original Charlie Choker statue was installed in the 1950s or early 60s (and I suppose could have been inspired by a muffler man, but was also a wood carving); he was replaced in the '70s by the current version. I grew up in Aberdeen and attended GHCC in the 70s, that's how I know the history. [Steve Wyrick, 09/07/1998]