| Land of the Giants |
| INDIANA: MUFFLER MEN |
| Ace Hardware Elkhart, IN |
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| The Elkhart Man was originally located at Palmer Hardware in the 1960s. At that time, he held a saw and possibly an axe. He was moved to a True Value hardware store and painted white and green to promote Scott's Lawncare products. In 2005, this business became an Ace Hardware store and he was repainted in their color scheme. For more, see this website. |
| Mr. Bendo Ralph's Muffler Indianapolis, IN |
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| The Indianapolis Mr. Bendo has been at the same location since the 1960s. |
| Big Jack Muncie, IN |
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| Big Jack held an RV in his right hand and a sign in his left when he had Jack Smith and Sons RV behind him. In 2005 (see bottom two photos), the location was taken over by MacAllister Machinery who removed Jack's sign and RV although his shirt still reads Jack RV. For more, see this website. |
| Muffler Indian Montpelier, IN |
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| The Montpelier Indian has been here since 1984 when he was given to the city by Larry P. Godfroy. He is the great-grandson of Francois Godfroy, the last war chief of the Miami Indians who once inhabited the area. This statue was originally at a Pontiac dealer in Indianapolis, IN. The fringe detailing is a nice touch. His left hand seems to have been turned around facing backwards. |
| CoreyMontpelier, IN | |||
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| CoreyNew Castle, IN | |||
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I believe these giant men started out as gas station attendants for the Marathon Oil Company. I haven't seen or heard of any outside of IN. I think they were originally named Corey as at least two have the name emblazoned on their arms.
The Montpelier Corey stands in front of the Covered Bridge Gallery of Fine Gifts and the Tin Lizzy Ice Cream Shop. When I was there, they were repainting him (note the scaffolding). The name Corey is still on his left arm and traces of the Marathon patch are on his right arm. I don't know if this is his original location but I suspect that he came from Muncie, IN. There was another Corey in Muncie (1 and 2, installed in 2001 at Pam Reason Car Sales, where he is/was nicknamed "Corey the Car Salesman". From the description of the Corey in Hartford City (overlaps with Montpelier) described here, it sounds like he has/had a patch of Pam Reason/Pam Reagon. The New Castle Corey stands near the Ice House Tavern but there was most likely a previous gas station on this vacant lot. Evidence of a painted over Marathon patch is on his right arm. There was another Corey in Connersville, IN at the Sparkle Car Wash/Flagman gas station but the business closed and he has disappeared. There was one in Cambridge City, IN but I think it's now gone. There is an Uncle Sam in Waynesville, OH that might be a converted Corey or possibly there were "options" as with the Bunyan/Indian/Half Wit Muffler Men. |
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