This snowy owl once belonged to George W. Bourne, perhaps more commonly known as the owner of “the Wedding Cake House” at 104 Summer Street. As a student at Bowdoin College, class of 1879, Dr. Bourne purchased two snowy owls from his college friend Admiral Robert Peary, class of 1877. Peary had mounted the two birds himself; in later years he would discover the North Pole and receive the rank of Admiral from an appreciative country.

While Bourne kept one owl, his father presented the second owl to Reverend Vinal, minister of the First Parish church. The current whereabouts of this second owl is unknown.

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