This mural was our vision to mark our 50th year in a way that involved the community. Over two days in March, more than 200 people helped paint it—each one sharing stories and memories of Mister Ed’s. It was a truly moving experience.
The artist, Michael Allison of Hollidaysburg, PA, then took the panels back to his studio to refine them, and today we get to share the final result with you.
Let’s look at the mural, shall we? Starting in the top left corner:
“Mister Ed” Gotwalt is a self-made businessman who started work at just 6 years old selling outdated calendars door-to-door in York city to help his single mother put food on the table. As a child, he worked on an asparagus farm, sold newspapers, and took care of his mother, not receiving a formal education past the eighth grade.
It was during his childhood that he fell in love with elephants. He’d sneak to the circus, usually held at the York Fair Grounds, just to marvel at the gentle giants.
As a young adult, Gotwalt moved to Washington DC, where he took a job at a local pharmacy and soda fountain. Then he started work with Giant Food Stores, then a small grocery chain, where he worked up the ranks as cashier, meat manager and finally store manager.
Later he met his wife, Pat, at another soda fountain.
They got married on February 26, 1967—the same date he started collecting elephants. The couple received an elephant with its trunk up for good luck from their sister-in-law as a wedding present. Then the newlyweds went on their honeymoon to Williamsburg, Va., where they picked up a few more elephants. On the drive home, Mister Ed turned to Pat and said, “I think I’m going to start collecting elephants.” And, as he liked to say, “It just got out of hand.”
The couple moved back to his home state of Pennsylvania in 1975, and he and his wife Pat opened Mister Ed’s: The Area’s Most Unusual General Store, just down the road from his current store, on Feb. 26 of that year (is February 26 sounding familiar yet?). The original Mister Ed’s enjoyed much success as a community gathering place where locals would come for food and fellowship at the snack bar and to see curiosities, like a small elephant collection. They were also famous for fresh roasted peanuts.
Mister Ed became quite a local character, staying up 76 hours to celebrate the nation’s bicentennial and staging 4th of July fireworks and Santa Claus arrivals. Each year, Santa would arrive by different means, including a fire engine, six-horse hitch, and hot air balloon. The hot air balloon arrival made international headlines, as Santa Claus crash-landed in tree boughs high above Caledonia State Park.
He also became involved in Totem Pole Playhouse, just down the road. He had the opportunity to take the stage with “All in the Family’s” Jean Stapleton and under the direction of her husband Bill Putch. In total, he performed in dozens of productions at the playhouse.
Always a dreamer, Gotwalt re-invented Mister Ed’s as an elephant museum and candy emporium at its current location on [what day?] February 26, 1983. As the business grew, and it became known as a must-see destination, Gotwalt added rooms and an ever- changing stock of unique candy and gifts. Here he is with the business’s fourth generation, great-grandson Larkin. Granddaughter Nicole (that’s me!) and husband Isaac purchased the business in 2014. We grew the business by adding homemade candies and a wholesale division. It grew so much, in 2019, we added a 1,700-square-foot addition to produce and package more fudge and candies.
Mister Ed passed away on, you guessed it, February 26, 2021. BUT Mister Ed’s is and always will be a family business. Pat, son Michael, Ed, daughter Tammy, granddaughter Nicole, grandson Isaac, and great-grandson Larkin have all helped make Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium one of southcentral Pennsylvania’s most unique attractions and favorite candy stores. It is a beloved destination, a family tradition.
As caretakers of our family’s legacy, we’re very aware of the responsibility we shoulder to keep our third-generation family business moving forward. With every decision, we remember the past and take one bold step toward the future. Our goal is that, now and forever, when people think of Mister Ed’s one word crosses their minds: “WOW!”