In the early days of the Thessalon House, the owner Michael McGuire had a tame "pet" moose who was named "Biddy".
Biddy was not only a regular site in town she had her own likes and preferences as well including arriving inside the bar everyday to share a cold one with the regulars.
The customers were so accustomed to her arrival that upon seeing her heading their way they would clear the bar top off and buy her a beer. Biddy would then tip the glass over and proceed to drink her beer off the bar with her tongue.
Biddy was also used in place of a horse when Mr.Maguire needed to return his empties to the dock where they were loaded on a ship and taken away. He would hitch her up and off they would go.
Often while on their dock excursions Biddy would help herself to another treat she was rather fond of as they passed by the ice cream parlor and fruit store, then owned by Charlie Ross. Biddy would help herself to a snack and her owner would faithfully reimburse the owner at a later time.
While Biddy had little respect for private property lines most people in town treated her with love and affection even though she was known to "taste test" many gardens when the produce was ready to pick.
After a time the Town did pass a bylaw stating that "moose would not be allowed to roam the streets freely". Thessalon is the ONLY town in Canada to have such a bylaw and received quite a bit of publicity when the story was featured in papers across the country.
Even though Mr. McGuire attempted to keep Biddy on "pasture arrest" she would not change her wandering ways and it was decided to donate her to the Toronto Zoo. The night before she was to leave however she was shot by an unknown person and the McGuire's and their children were inconsolable over this loss.
