"Hi, I'm from Spread Eagle, Wisconsin." It's hard not to smirk when you hear
that greeting. But there are people who must utter those words (if they tell
the truth) every time they meet someone.
Here are the strangest town names in Wisconsin and the stories behind them. If you know of one that isn't on this list, add it using the talkback feature at the end of the story.
Spread Eagle: Boasting the most interesting backstory on the list, this town is located in Florence County in the northern part of the state, near Iron Mountain, Mich. It got its name from a chain of lakes that resemble a spread eagle from overhead.
There's also a bit of a legend surrounding the area. It's rumored that Al Capone stopped by on occasion. Rumor has it there was a speakeasy/nightclub in the middle of a lake that the famous gangster used during vacation time. A rail line from Chicago stopped in town, making transportation easy. These days, the scenic area is still a popular destination for people seeking outdoor summer and winter fun.
Dickeyville: Resting comfortably 10 miles from Dubuque, Iowa, this agricultural community was founded in the late 1840s by a settler named Dickey. There you can find a religious and patriotic wonder, the Dickeyville Grotto, which a Catholic priest built. It's made of stone, mortar and millions of pieces of colored glass, gems, stalactites and more.
{INSERT_RELATED}Friendship: Located in Adams County, approximately 145 miles from Milwaukee, in central Wisconsin. The Adams County Chamber of Commerce tells us that Friendship is named after Friendship, New York, another small town.
Gays Mills: This charming little town, incorporated in 1900, is in Crawford County in the southwest portion of the state. In 1847, civil engineer and Indiana native James B. Gay settled in the area. His brothers John and Thomas soon joined him, and together they built and ran a mill.
Pardeeville: Located in Columbia County, Pardeeville was founded in the mid 1800s by John Pardee. It's about 35 miles north of Madison.
Spooner: Located in Washburn County in the Northwest part of the state, almost 3,000 folks call Spooner home. The town was incorporated in 1909. It's named after a Union Army Civil War captain named John Spooner. Born in 1843, Spooner moved to Hudson, Wis. from the Dakotas in 1870. A legislator, attorney and politician, he made possible the mergers that formed the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railroad. The railroad helped populate what became known as Spooner.
Other tiny towns with strange names sprinkled throughout the state include Breed, Cream, Cuba City, Disco, Dykesville, Embarrass, Loyal, Luck, Pound, Strum and Yuba.
