Submitted by Addison Powers, Nutmeg Pharmacy
(August 8, 2025) — The mischievous mucket has found a home in front of Higganum Hardware! The Higganum Mucket is a delightful piece of local folklore from Higganum’s rich and vibrant history. First mentioned by locals in the 1950s, this fictional creature was later embraced and revitalized by Vietnam veteran and author Arthur Wiknik, Jr., who began writing a series of humorous stories in the early 1980s known as “Mucket Mania.”
In these tales, the mucket is depicted as an 18‑inch monster fish—with a lizard‐like head, horns on the skull, and razor‑sharp teeth maintained by its abrasive tongue—capable of seemingly impossible feats, like tipping over garbage cans, saving swimming children from danger or leaping entire dams. Over time, the mucket became a symbol of community pride and whimsy.
Through abundant creativity and storytelling, Higganum’s mucket has persisted as a playful myth, adopted by residents young and old as a quirky and unique part of local identity. As a tribute to town folklore, Gregory McKenna, Chairman of Nutmeg Pharmacy, commissioned a mucket statue to be created and placed outside of Higganum Hardware, and hopes to commission more for local businesses.
This concept was originally proposed by Cindy Sola, a member of the Higganum Economic Development Committee, to draw locals and tourists alike and to provide an opportunity to invigorate the local economy. Nutmeg Pharmacy and Higganum Hardware look forward to seeing all the photos of people posing with our town cryptid, and hope to take some to put up on the Higganum TV slideshow in the pharmacy. If you are a local business and are interested in having your very own custom-painted mucket, Nutmeg Pharmacy has information available on how to find a local artist. Feel free to call at 860-345-3607.
Photo provided by Addison Powers. Left to Right, Jason Navallil (Pharmacy Manager), Jarrott Lemon (Higganum Hardware), Taylor Lemon (Higganum Hardware), Addison Powers (Painted Statue)
