Mushroom Mary Halts Construction in Downtown Austin
By Editor | October 23, 2007
Austin, TX - October 23, 2007 — A common mushroom bearing the likeness of what some claim is the Virgin Mary has halted construction in downtown Austin, Texas.
This story unfolded Monday afternoon in the vicinity of Second Street and Congress Avenue, when a passerby noticed a mushroom with unusual markings sprouting from a patch of grass near a construction zone.
The man knelt down to examine the mushroom more closely, and that’s when he made a startling discovery. The mushroom’s markings resemble the face of a woman, who the man believed to be the Virgin Mary. The man told members of his church about the mushroom, and word quickly spread throughout the community.
Image: Closeup photo of “Mushroom Mary,” alleged miracle in Austin, TX
Crowds began forming on Monday night, and the mushroom was soon named “Mushroom Mary.” The only problem is, construction crews need to clear the grassy patch — along with the notable fungus — in order to finish a parking lot project in the rapidly developing area of downtown Austin.
So little by little, the curious crowd was transformed into a gathering of protesters, eager to defend “Mushroom Mary” from the bulldozers and steamrollers. As a result, there has been a standoff at the mushroom spot for nearly 14 hours (at the time of this story posting).
Image: Group protests removal of miracle mushroom
Local church groups want to preserve the mushroom, along with a ten-foot diameter of grass around it. Construction crews, on the other hand, insist the area must be cleared in accordance with their city-approved construction plans. We will keep you informed as this story unfolds.
Sound Off, Austin
Do you think Mushroom Mary should be preserved as a local miracle spot? Or would you rather have the extra parking space? Let us know by using the “Comments” box below.
Topics: Austin News |