Blue Gill Capital of the World
Was this really the best scene of the "vacation paradise" of Birchwood, Wisconsin that the maker of this 1970s-era postcard could come up with? And where are the blue gills?.
Here's (what I think is) the present-day view on Google Maps.
Source: eBay
Here's (what I think is) the present-day view on Google Maps.
Source: eBay
Comments
A blue gill is a fish, Alex.
Posted by KDP on 01/12/19 at 12:57 PM
Look for a lake.
Posted by Virtual on 01/13/19 at 02:09 AM
There's no lake on the postcard, nor is there any fish, or people for that matter. This place looke like the blue gills abducted everybody, then returned to their own planet.
Posted by Yudith on 01/13/19 at 01:08 PM
Because I get curious I followed the link provided by Alex and then did so research about Birchwood. I copied the sentences below from Wikipedia:
""As of the census of 2010, there were 442 people, 200 households, and 118 families residing in the village. The population density was 405.5 inhabitants per square mile. Also According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.26 square miles (3.26 km2), of which, 1.09 square miles (2.82 km2) of it is land and 0.17 square miles (0.44 km2) is water.""
While only 0.17 square miles of the lake are within the town limits the lake itself is much larger. Additionally a search on google maps shows several lakes in the surrounding area.
While the postcard does not show a lake or a blue gill the claim may very well be a valid one as a marketing statement to attract tourism, something that a great many communities do to promote their own.
""As of the census of 2010, there were 442 people, 200 households, and 118 families residing in the village. The population density was 405.5 inhabitants per square mile. Also According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.26 square miles (3.26 km2), of which, 1.09 square miles (2.82 km2) of it is land and 0.17 square miles (0.44 km2) is water.""
While only 0.17 square miles of the lake are within the town limits the lake itself is much larger. Additionally a search on google maps shows several lakes in the surrounding area.
While the postcard does not show a lake or a blue gill the claim may very well be a valid one as a marketing statement to attract tourism, something that a great many communities do to promote their own.
Posted by Steve E. on 01/13/19 at 03:06 PM
Good call on the Google street view. If you click farther down the street, you can see where the "People's Store" sign used to be on the brick building on the left -- which still has green awnings. The sign on the front now just says "The Store." I guess if your town has only one ...
Posted by FRANK P HARRIS on 01/14/19 at 02:08 PM
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Category: Geography and Maps | Tourists and Tourism | 1970s