Wisconsin Sesquicentennial Poster Legend
Top line of trees represents Wisconsin’s northwoods. Lakes and
farmlands abound statewide.
Rock formations, center left represent The Dells; to the right they
form a bridge for the Circus Train leaving Baraboo.
The body of water with geese represents Horicon Marsh. Tractor at left
is a ‘hybrid’-there have been several manufacturers. The
wheels are early J.I. Case wheels, and since John Deere has been making
lawn tractors here for over 100 years, the grill is their tradional green.
Atop the chair is the state bird, the robin; in it’s beak is a
pennant proclaiming the state’s motto:"FORWARD". The left arm of
the chair holds a
paper roll, representing one of the state’s largest, and oldest industries.
The roll is balancing on top of a photo album; printing
is also a large industry. Photos in the album depict the state
capitol, the Allen Bradley Clock, a UW-Madison building, and a factory.
Resting
against the same arm is a pick axe for the mining industry, and
an anchor for the shipbuilding industry. Both are depicted on the state
flag.
A cranberry scoop is close by; Wisconsin has tied with Massachusetts
in providing almost half the US production.
Other foods in the basket are cabbage, potatoes, and peas; Wisconsin
has produced almost one-third of this produce for the US. There is also
sausage and radishes. More than one company has been producing sausage
for over 100 years.
The right arm of the chair holds cheese(also represented by the cheesebox
in front of the chair) There’s a beer bottle for the brewing industry.
Behind them are ethnic flags which are there for two reasons:
One, for ethnic diversity in the state, and two, they symbolize some
of the festivals held in Milwaukee.
The United States flag is not just patriotic: Flag Day was first celebrated
in Waubeka in June of 1946.
The Titletown flag is for the Green Bay Packers, begun way back in
1919. The red flag with the ‘W’ is for the UW-Madison Badgers.
Near the chair’s leg are violets, the state flower. Hanging on the
‘peninsula’ of the chair are Door County cherries.
In front of the chair is a toy steam shovel. Heavy
equipment companies here produced the steam shovels that dug the Panama
Canal, powered by diesel engines also built here. The sand pail
has Cana Island painted on it. At its left is a canoe for the state’s Native
Americans.
Because there are many different tribes, its design is to represent
all of them. Being this land’s first settlers, it is in the forefront of
the painting.
Another native settler was the eagle. One nicknamed ‘Old Abe’ became
a mascot for the 32nd Division during
the Civil War. He was legendary for sitting on top of cannons during
battle. An eagle was also featured in advertisements for J.I Case, so the
painting features one perched in the trees of the northwoods.
If you look to the right of ‘Old Abe’, there are rock formations behind
the trees...and if you look hard enough, you will find the Lombardi Trophy.