Odd Wisconsin

by Janik, Erika

• ISBN13: 9780870203831
• ISBN10: 0870203835
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-07-16
• Publisher: Wisconsin Historical Society

Summary

While Bob La Follette's exploits as leader of progressive politics are legendary, his early morning exertions to save valuable government documents and executive department paintings during the disastrous 1904 capitol fire are largely unknown - until now. Odd Wisconsincaptures the Wisconsin people, places, and events that didn't make it into conventional state histories, lowering a bucket into the depths of Wisconsin history and bringing to light curious fragments of forgotten lives. This unique book unearths the stories that got lost to history even though they may have made local headlines at the time. No mythical hodags or eight-legged horses here! Odd Wisconsinfeatures strange but true stories from Wisconsin's past, every one of which was documented (albeit by the standards of the day). These brief glimpses into Wisconsin's past will surprise, perplex, astonish, and otherwise connect readers with the state's fascinating history. From "the voyageur with a hole in his side" to "pigs beneath the legislature," Odd Wisconsingathers 300 years of curiosities, all under the radar of traditional stories.

Author Biography

Erika Janik grew up in Redmond, Washington, but now knows more about Wisconsin history than she ever thought possible. She has master's degrees in American history and journalism from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and has written many essays and articles on Wisconsin history for the Wisconsin Historical Society online collections and as editor of the Society’s membership newsletter. She coordinated the Society’s digital collection “Turning Points in Wisconsin History,” wrote dozens of topical essays on state history as well as a short history of the state, composed encyclopedic dictionary entries on Wisconsin, and continues to provide regular feature stories for the Society homepage. Her work has appeared in Wisconsin Trails magazine, On Wisconsin, Renewing the Countryside, Isthmus, and the Wisconsin State Journal.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Odd Lives & Strange Deaths	p. 1
Curiosities	p. 31
Animal Antics	p. 71
Political [Im]Ponderables	p. 85
Palatable Peculiarities	p. 121
Spiritual Encounters	p. 149
Index	p. 184
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