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go to: official county website
go to: Oneida County tourism page

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attractions & oddities

resources

 

1

World's Largest Penny

 

location:  Woodruff
record holder / roadside oddity



A concrete monument built in tribute to the collection of a million pennies for the Dr. Kate Hospital in 1953.


"Kate Newcomb had a dream -- a hospital for the Lakeland Area. Through contributions a volunteer help, the hospital was started. Because of the lack of funds the building was discontinued. Pennies would now help to complete the hospital.
The pupils of the geometry class Arbor Vitae - Woodruff School wanted to see a million of something.  Their teacher Otto Burich, suggested that they collect pennies for the new hospital: The Million Penny Parade was launched.
In March of 1954, Dr. Kate went to a Doctor's convention in California. She was a surprise guest on the TV program, "This is Your Life". Because of her appearance people all over the country sent money for the hospital. With this money, amounting to $106,000 the hospital was completed and equipped.
As a result of this Penny Parade, the residents of this area had the beginning of the present Lakeland Memorial Hospital.  This penny is dedicated to the work of Dr. Kate and the people of the community who helped make this hospital a reality."

- inscription on plaque near big penny

  northwest corner of Hemlock & 3rd Avenue
(2 blocks south of Highway 47, 1 block west of Highway 51)

Woodruff, WI  54568
(715) 356-6896

Roadside America
www.roadsideamerica.com

World's Largest Things
www.worldslargestthings.com

Roadside Architecture
www.agilitynut.com

Roadside Peek
www.roadsidepeek.com

World's Largest Roadside Attractions
www.wlra.us

Dr. Kate Museum
north-wis.com/drkmuseum/

Journal Sentinel Online
article "World's largest . . . has home somewhere" or (here)

book:
"Weird Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey & Richard D. Hendricks
Barnes & Noble Books (2005)
pages 78 - 79
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

book:
"Midwest Marvels"
by Eric Dregni
UofM Press (2006)
page 359
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

book:
"Oddball Wisconsin"
by Jerome Pohlen
Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001)
pages 26 - 27

buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

2

Paul Bunyan's Northwoods Cook Shanty Restaurant

 

location:  Minocqua
restaurant with character / roadside oddity

Paul's cook shanty serves large multiple course meals on metal plates in a lumber camp setting.  The sign out by the road just might be a life-size depiction of ol' Paul.

  8653 Highway 51 N.
Minocqua, WI  54548
(715) 356-6270

hours:
check website calendar

Official Site
www.paulbunyans.com

Roadside Architecture
www.agilitynut.com

book:
"Oddball Wisconsin"
by Jerome Pohlen
Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001)
page 18

buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

book:
"Miracles of The Spirit: Folk, Art, and Stories from Wisconsin"
by Don Krug & Ann Parker
University Press of Mississippi (2005)
page 227
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

3

Beef A Rama

The Parade of Roasts

 

location:  Minocqua
event

 

Minocqua's premier fall festival includes the Rump Roast Run and the Parade of Roasts, which involves actual beef roasts beings carried down main street before being carved up to feed the onlookers.  The Rump Roast Run is a 5k/10k run that awards beef roasts to the winners.

  usually held in late September
  (800) 44-NORTH

photo courtesy of WQMA radio 

    

photo courtesy of RumpRoastRun.com

Minocqua Chamber of Commerce
www.minocqua.org

Rump Roast Run Official Sites
www.rumproastrun.com

2Camels Festivals & Events
www.2camels.com

book:
"Wisconsin Curiosities"
by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press
(2nd ed., 2004)  page 81

(3rd ed., 2009)
  page 72
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

book:
"America Bizarro"
by Nelson Taylor
St. Martin's Press (2000)
page 215
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

4

Fred Sheer's Lumberjack Shows

 

location:  Woodruff
event

"Fred Scheer's Lumberjack Shows has been a dominant force in lumberjack sports across North America and the World. We have traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Africa and Australia, competing and performing at fairs, sport shows, corporate gatherings and specialty events. Our Lumberjacks have been featured on national television including ESPN's Great Outdoor Games and ABC's Wide World of Sports."
- section from the official site

  based in Hayward (Sawyer County) & traveling to Woodruff for shows during the summer months near the intersection of Highways 47 & 51
check website for times or call (715) 634-6923

Official Site
scheerslumberjackshow.com

 

 

 

sighting  /  phenomenon  /  morbid curiosity

resources

 

1

Bigfoot Passes By Window  (1984)

 
bigfoot
location:  Woodruff

"The grunting noises came by the house and I turned in the chair and saw a large dark upright object pass by. The neighborhood dogs went wild, and a foul scent came with the creatures passing."
- section from BFRO incident report

  Near the Minocqua-Woodruff area.  The area of Old Highway 51 and Townline Road.

BFRO (Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization)
www.bfro.net

 

2

Minocqua & Hazelhurst UFO Sightings

 
UFO
location:  Minocqua / Hazelhurst

"The light stayed on me as I was moving. It did not vary any direction at all. I floored the sled, now realizing this was not a helicopter and I started to panic. I had the sled floored all the way back home, sliding around corners and intersections."
- section from UFO Wisconsin 12-02-95 report

UFO Wisconsin
www.ufowisconsin.com

book
"The Haunted Northwoods"
by Tom Hollatz & Seal Dwyer
North Star Press (2000)

page 107
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

3

Tula's Cafe

 
haunted
location:  Minocqua

The restaurant has alleged reports of haunting.

  70 West Shopping Center
Minocqua, WI  54548

Wisconsin Paranormal Investigation Team (WIX)
hauntedwi.com

book:
"The Wisconsin Road Guide to Haunted Locations"
by Chad Lewis and Terry Fisk
Research Publishing Co. (2004)
pages 172 - 173

buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

 

"The Tale of Tobie"

 
ghost
location:  Minocqua

A man who had a real 'bogeyman' in his room as a child moves into an apartment with another spirit, one with an electrostatic ability.

book
"The Haunted Northwoods"
by Tom Hollatz & Seal Dwyer
North Star Press (2000)

pages 53 - 57
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

 

Unknown Animal Hit By Vehicle  (2005)

 
mystery creature
location:  Minocqua

A mysterious animal the size of a black bear struck by vehicle runs off into woods.

book:
"Weird Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey & Richard D. Hendricks
Barnes & Noble Books (2005)
page 114
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

 

UFO Spotted from Senior Citizens Home  (1980)

 
UFO
location:  Woodruff

" 'I didn't believe a friend of mine who saw one years ago. You have to see it for yourself. And who will believe you? It could have been something from our country or the Russians or from another planet. Who knows?' "
- section from UFO Wisconsin report

UFO Wisconsin
www.ufowisconsin.com

 

 

 

taste of local history

resources

 

1

Dr. Kate Museum

 

location:  Woodruff
museum

"The Dr. Kate Museum preserves over 100 years of history, remembering those people who helped place the area in the state and national spotlight. Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb is remembered as The Angel on Snowshoes for her dedication in reaching patients when the winter roads were impassible."
- section from Portal Wisconsin website


  923 Second Ave.
Woodruff, WI  54568
(715) 356-6896

                      

hours:
Memorial Day thru Labor Day  (Mon - Fri)  11am – 4pm

Dr. Kate Museum
north-wis.com/drkmuseum/

Journal Sentinel Online
article "Dr. Kate's parade marches on" or (here)

Portal Wisconsin
www.portalwisconsin.org

book:
"The Wisconsin Story: 150 Stories/150 Years"
by Dennis McCann
Journal Sentinel Inc (1998)
pages 18 - 19
buy it at Amazon.com
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com

 

2

Minocqua Museum

 

location:  Minocqua
museum

"The Minoqua Museum typically displays two exhibits, one, a yearly changing exhibit, honors early pioneer families in the area, the other changes once every year or two (a recent exhibit explored early health care, dating back to 1890s). A new addition, expected to open in 2002, will offer small permanent exhibits on Min-Aqua Bats and the Minoqua fire of 1912."
- section from Portal Wisconsin website


  416 Chicago Ave.
Minocqua, WI  54548
(715) 356-7666

                     

hours:
June thru Labor Day  (Mon - Fri)  10am – 4pm

Portal Wisconsin
www.portalwisconsin.org

 

More Oneida County historic attractions listed at:

Explore Wisconsin

 



updated 04-20-09  •  all images excluding those attributed to others are property of Wisconsinosity.com