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For your reading pleasure: How Winneconne seceded from Wisconsin
For most of us, the word "secession" conjures up images of the Civil War, Southern belles, and the Confederate flag. But for one Wisconsin town, secession has a whole other meaning.In 1967, state cartographers made a grievous error when creating the official state map of Wisconsin. An unlabeled dot lay between Lakes Poygan and Winnebago - the village of Winneconne had disappeared. After alerting Governor Knowles of the error, Chamber of Commerce president Vera Kitchen was particularly dissatisfied with his response. A secret committee of villagers began plotting a public relations effort to put Winneconne back on the map. In a nation-wide contest, Kitchen challenged participants to figure out the best way to do so. Two former Wisconsin residents, Kay Klipstine and Janice Badtke, made the winning proposal that Winneconne should secede from the state. The rest is history. In preparation for secession, officers of the Sovereign State of Winneconne were named, a flag was created, and festivities planned. The skunk was named official animal of the Sovereign State of Winneconne, poison ivy the flower, and the dodo its official bird. Secession began on July 21, 1967. At 4 p.m., Governor Knowles placed an apologetic phone call to Winneconne officials and promised the error would be fixed on all 1968 maps. He also ordered that a new road sign be erected at the junction of highways 41 and 110 to point the way to Winneconne. Although reunited with the state of Wisconsin, Winneconne commemorates this historic event with its annual Sovereign State Day celebration. Posted by: mom 2009-10-28 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=282001 |