Regionalism
The Artesian Tree
I can find no fuller account of this miracle. No doubt it was bulldozed long ago.ADDENDUM: I just did the obvious and visited the address given via Google Streetview. No sign of the fabled tree, alas. See screenshot in extended.
More in extended >>
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jan 15, 2022 -
Comments (4)
Category: Health, Regionalism, Natural Wonders
A Wild Man of Alabama
Society does not tolerate outsiders and hermits very well.Source: The True Democrat (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)16 Mar 1853, Wed Page 2
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jan 07, 2022 -
Comments (5)
Category: Regionalism, Vigilante Justice, Hermits, Dogs, Nineteenth Century
Sustainable Inuit Fashions
The website is here.Designer's Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Dec 29, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Animals, Ethnic Groupings, Fashion, Regionalism
The Cave Restaurant and Resort of Missouri
Alas, it closed in 2015.When it was last for sale, a mere quarter-million. Call the realtor to see what you can arrange.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 11, 2021 -
Comments (2)
Category: Regionalism, Restaurants, Caves, Caverns, Tunnels and Other Subterranean Venues
The Deadly Tombstone of John Rogers Vinton
From his Find-a-Grave site:
After some time spent at Monterey and Saltillo, He was then ordered to join Gen. Scott in the attack on Vera Cruz. In the evening of 22 Mar 1847, he had just returned to his post when a large shell, hit the top of a parapet, glanced and struck his head, fracturing his skull, and killing him instantly. The shell did not burst, and it is supposedly that very cannon ball, that now adorns his grave.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 05, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Death, Regionalism, War, Cemeteries, Graveyards, Crypts, Mortuaries and Other Funereal Pursuits, Nineteenth Century
Gastro Obscura
A new book from the ATLAS OBSCURA folks about weird foods. A perfect Xmas present for any WU-vie!I understand Jeppson's Malört is discussed therein.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Oct 14, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Food, Regionalism, World, Nausea, Revulsion and Disgust
California Soap Mine
Was the 1855 Soap Mine tale just a prank or hoax? What about the 1901 article, in third place, which sounds a little more scientific?
Source.
Source.
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Aug 16, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Freaks, Oddities, Quirks of Nature, Hoaxes and Imposters and Imitators, Humor, Hygiene, Regionalism, Natural Wonders, Nineteenth Century, Twentieth Century
The Santa Claus Statue in Santa Claus, Indiana
I thought that in the midst of summer heat (for some of us) we could use a little wintertime.
Here is the town's official page for the statue.
But Roadside America has a much more interesting tale. More details at the link.
It was purposely built on the highest hill in Santa Claus by businessman Carl Barrett, who wanted to antagonize his arch-rival Milton Harris, who was building his own attraction a hundred yards down the road. It was dedicated on Christmas Day 1935, less than a week after Harris had opened Santa's Candy Castle.
Barrett felt that Harris was commercializing Christmas. In contrast, Barrett claimed that the Santa statue had been built with the pennies of American schoolchildren. That may have been true, but he also claimed that the statue was built on the spot where a meteor had crashed (he hinted that this was a sign of divine guidance), and that it was made of solid granite. In fact there was no meteor, and the statue was later found to be made of concrete.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Aug 03, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Cult Figures and Artifacts, Holidays, Regionalism, Rivalries, Feuds and Grudges, 1930s
The Seattle Seafair Queen
It's too bad that the raucous early years, with roving pirates, did not last into our era.
Article here.
More pictures of queens here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Aug 02, 2021 -
Comments (0)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Parades and Festivals, Regionalism, 1950s
Queen Mermaids of the Flin Flon Trout Festival
Source
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 15, 2021 -
Comments (8)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Regionalism, Fish, 1960s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |