Lyn Cote here-Have you Ever Seen a Hodag?
Have you ever seen a hodag?Probably not. The hodag is the mascot of a town I live near in Wisconsin. According to Wikipedia, and I quote: "The Hodag is a folkloric animal of the American state of Wisconsin. Its history is focused mainly around the city of Rhinelander in northern Wisconsin, where it was said to have been discovered." A folkloric animal can be fun.
And the fun started in 1893 when prankster Eugene Shepard announced the discovery and killing of the last hodag. And here's the photo to prove it!
Shepard wrote that: "It was "the fiercest, strangest, most frightening monster ever to set razor sharp claws on the earth. It became extinct after its main food source, all white bulldogs, became scarce in the area." Well, the white bulldogs probably gave a sigh of relief!!
Anyway, the folks in Rhinelander have fun with their mascot or symbol, keeping the fun spirit of Shepard alive. Here's the statue of the hodag in front of the tourist center in Rhinelander.
Rhinelander sits just to the south of the northwoods or Lakeland area where I live. Within a 50 mile radius of my home are 2300 lakes. If you fly over this area, you see more water than land. That explains part of the area's allure. Most of Chicago and Milwaukee head north to escape the heat and humidity of summer. My latest Love Inspired romance is set in a fictitious town near Rhinelander and the hodag makes its romantic debut in Building a Family.
Do you have a mascot or symbol for your hometown? What is it?
Labels: hodag, Love Inspired Romance, Rhinelander WI
7 Comments:
At September 30, 2011 3:52 AM,
marybelle said…
No mascot or symbol here. Just flowers. Thank goodness.
At September 30, 2011 9:40 AM,
Jackie S. said…
No, not a mascot here....but enjoyed hearing about yours!!!
jackie.smith[at]dishmail[dot]net
At September 30, 2011 9:49 AM,
susandyer1962 said…
I have seen the hodag......I have been to Rhinelander a few times and always say the same thing..."what the heck is a hodag" Hahaha-Lyn I'm in Southeast WI and you are in a beautiful part of our state!!
At September 30, 2011 10:17 AM,
Wendy said…
No mascot or symbol here either. We do have a tale told in the mountain regions of the Haggis which has 2 legs longer than the others so it can walk around the mountains without falling over!
At September 30, 2011 8:54 PM,
Jennifer said…
UK is a big symbol for Kentucky.
At October 1, 2011 9:14 AM,
Lyn Cote said…
So I guess the hodag isn't unique! That Haggis sounds dangerous. And sandy, come north!
At October 3, 2011 7:39 AM,
Wendy said…
:)
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