Seneca County Museum revealing name of duck mascot Sunday

After 70 years, Seneca County Museum's four-legged duckling is going to get a name Sunday afternoon. The museum invites students and families — and anybody else who is interested — to attend an open house 2-3 p.m. Sunday where the name will be revealed, as well as the winners of the duck-naming contest. The museum has been home to the taxidermy duckling with two extra legs for about 70 years. "Our little duck was born south of Tiffin in the late 1940s, and he was unique because of his extra set of legs," said museum volunteer Mark Steinmetz. "Unfortunately, he only lived a few days, but his owner had him preserved and he was donated to the museum. "Because he's been at the museum for around 70 years, he's become a bit of a celebrity," Steinmetz said. Every May, he said Tiffin third-graders visit the museum, and the duck has been there to greet them. "And whenever those third graders return to the Seneca County Museum later in life, it's normal to hear them ask, 'So where's the four-legged duck?'" Steinmetz said. "Over all of these many years, he's had fame, he's had fans … but he didn't have a name." Each year, the museum does an awareness campaign for students such as a poster contest or something similar. During an advisory board meeting a few months ago, he said board members got the idea of naming the duck to raise interest about the museum. "A bunch of names were submitted from kids all over the place," Steinmetz said. The top five names were selected by the committee, and then the general public was asked to vote on names during Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Festival in September. Students who submitted the top five names have been invited to attend the open house for the name reveal. "None of them know the winning name," he said. "From here forward, he's going to be the museum mascot." The museum plans to include the duck in activities and create "Flat Stanley"-type likenesses people can carry with them so they can take photos of the duck on their travels. Registration is not required for this event. Refreshments are to be provided. For more information, visit senecacountymuseum.com or call (419) 447-5955.