Time was, when the citizens of Hazard, Ky., talked about the Mother Goose house, it was mostly to talk about George Stacy, the imaginative entrepreneur in the Perry County town. Today, the house stands on its own, a city landmark since 1940.
Why a goose? Well, according to Alice McIntosh, the third generation family member to care for the unusual dwelling, why not?
The exterior of the house is made of sandstone. The roof of the building is ribbed just like a goose. The head of the goose is about 15 feet high. There is a tail at the other end of the roof and the base of the house symbolizes a nest.
The eight egg-shaped windows are a popular feature of the house. While it has been rumored that stones for the house’s foundation came from every state in the country, McIntosh says she can’t be sure of that. Neighbors recall that many of the large stones came from nearby streams.
The goose, which has blinking automobile lights in its eyes, was home to the Stacy family for years. “My aunt Ollie, George’s wife, never turned down anyone who wanted to see the house and we’ve tried to carry on that tradition,” McIntosh says. “Most are amazed to see that it really is a house – with living room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bath.”
McIntosh converted the house to an inn in 2010.
“We’re the third generation to care for the Mother Goose house and our children help us as well,” McIntosh says. “Why, my seven-year-old granddaughter gives the best guided tour of all of us!”
More information about the location, tours and reservations for the Mother Goose House can be found at mothergooseinnky.com or by calling McIntosh at 606-438-0280.
