A Missoula Landmark Fades Away: Farewell to the Lawn Mower House

There is nothing permanent except change. - Heraclitus 

There are times when we take things for granted in Missoula. We may think that they will always be there. Then one day, you wake up, and they’re gone. Sometimes it’s something big, like a restaurant or a favorite store that closes. Sometimes it’s something small, but it means more than you expected.

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That happened to me recently. I was driving on North Avenue, by the intersection of North and Russell, when I saw there was a big dumpster on the street in front of the “Lawn Mower House”. Now, only one lawn mower remains.

The Story Behind Missoula’s “Lawn Mower House”

For those who don’t know, the “Lawn Mower House” is a little pink house on North Avenue. At one time, there were lawn mowers of all different shapes and sizes that covered the entire driveway and front yard of the home. The owner of the home was a lawn mower repairman, and he had quite a collection.  

According to a Reddit post, the homeowner has passed away. The news was sad for me. Our radio station overlooked that house, and I saw it nearly every day for almost thirty years. We witnessed the growth of the lawn mower collection over the years, and now it’s gone. Another piece of Missoula history that is no more.  

Why Locals Loved This Quirky Landmark

The house will likely be remodeled, a new lawn planted, and it will blend into the neighborhood. In a few years, cars will drive past that house, and most people won’t give it a second glance. But for many years, people who drove or walked past that house often wondered, “What’s up with that lawn mower house?” 

Missoula has lost another piece of its history, which makes our town what it is. To the family, we’re sorry for your loss.