Odd Wisconsin: Amusing, Perplexing, and Unlikely Stories from Wisconsin's Past

by Erika Janik

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 Wisconsin captures 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 Wisconsin features 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 Wisconsin gathers 300 years of curiosities, all under the radar of traditional stories.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 2007

About the author

Erika Janik is a freelance writer and a radio producer at Wisconsin Public Radio. She is the author of Apple: A Global History, Madison: A History of a Model City, A Short History of Wisconsin, and Odd Wisconsin: Amusing, Perplexing and Unlikely Stories from Wisconsin’s Past.

Interested in nearly everything, Erika writes on local food and drink, Wisconsin history, medical history, and green living, among other things. Her work has appeared on Smithsonian.com, Mental Floss, Midwest Living, Isthmus, the Wisconsin Magazine of History, the Wisconsin State Journal, The Onion, MyMidwest, Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine, and in the book Renewing the Countryside: Wisconsin (University of Wisconsin Press, 2007). Her essays have also been featured on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Life.”

Originally from Redmond, Washington, Erika now knows more about Wisconsin history than she ever thought possible. She has a BA in history from Linfield College (2002), an MA in American history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2004), and an MA in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2006).

Reviews

[Bill Johnson]

I always enjoyed Erika's articles in Wisconsin Trails magazine. This book is more of the same. Neat little anecdotal vignettes of life in Wisconsin. The kind of history you don't get in your typical school text books. I give it a big thumbs up.

[Lisa]

Lots of fun group of little stories gleaned from past records, news accounts, and images. The headline fonts make it a little difficult to read, but all in all it's a great little gift book and neat to read.

[Maria Rowe]

Fun and entertaining book. I wish it’d been longer! Great stories in there. I also wish there’d been more photos. Really enjoyed reading this.

[Scott]

I enjoyed this. Quick stories that mention Wisconsin history that may not be well known.

[Louise]

Snippets of weird happenings in Wisconsin’s past form the basis of this book. Each one is a take in itself, loosely organized by topic. Some really strange stories here!

[Lizzy]

Really interesting, varied, and well-written stories! I knew basically none of these facts already. More pictures would’ve been fun!

[Sam]

If you're familiar with Wisconsin history, there wasn't a lot in here you won't already have heard about, at least in passing. I didn't like the weird font used for headings; I found it difficult to read. Other than that, it was a cute little book.

[Kathleen]

Fun read. Short chapters. Easy to pick up and put down. Or just skim through when you have a few minutes.

[Chels]

Fun and weird, just my cup of tea.