The geese at Sullivan's Pond will soon be moving on up to the big house.
For more than 30 years now they have had to endure a sloppy, rotting shack on their island hideaway in the middle of the pond.
But a good samaritan saw their housing plight and has built them a luxurious, new abode.
Pat Ferguson, one of the creative caretakers at Shubie Park was visiting Sullivan's Pond one day and said he was surprised at how rundown the goose house had become.
"I felt bad for the little guys, so I thought I would build them a new and improved home."
Ferguson, who is responsible for the creation of the lost and found boxes at Shubie, picnic tables and countless other carpentry masterpieces over his six years at the park, knew right away he wanted to build them a home that would last.
"I framed the structure in an A shape, put in a window for them so it would be nice and bright, soffit vents for air flow and spruce shingles," he said." I worked on it here in the shop for about the past month and it is ready to go."
Dartmouth Centre Coun. Gloria McCluskey says it is time the geese had a new house.
"The geese mean a great deal, especially to the people who frequent the pond and live around it," she said. "They are always calling me as soon as the weather gets cold to find out when we are taking them away for the winter. There was lots of excitement, I believe it was last year, when a gosling was born."
Dartmouthians are used to seeing the geese lined up by the crosswalk on Ochterloney Street and stopping traffic while they saunter across the street to the park.
"Some motorists find it annoying, but others get a kick out of it," said McCluskey. "But they would certainly be missed if they were taken away."
Ferguson said he had fun designing and building the house.
"I don't particularly love geese, but I don't hate them either. They needed a new place, so I made them one."
He said he is not sure when the house will be installed on the little island or whether the geese will be hosting an open house or not, but Ferguson says he will continue to lend an expert hand wherever he is needed.
FACTS
-Sullivan's Pond is a man-made lake created by Irish labourers while constructing the Shubenacadie Canal in the 1800s.
-The totem pole on the small island was a gift from the province of British Columbia for hosting the 1969 Canada Summer Games.
-In 2006 a new fountain near the pond became operational.
