The Best Damn Streetscape PERIOD!

[Wannaplan?]

Two weeks ago, I went to a family reunion on my wife's side of the family, held in Norwalk, Wisconsin, a little town of 650 people about 100 miles northwest of Madison. We got married last year, so this was my first trip to the region, and of course, the first time I met the cousins and uncles. HOO-BOY! I needn't say anymore, if you know what I mean.

Driving through the area, I found this on the light poles. I thought it was a neat little gem, for a streetscape banner:

Norwalk, Black Squirrel Capital of the World

Totally gnarly! Can you believe it? This is one of the most bizarre things I have ever seen in my life!

[JNA]

Well Olney, Illinois is the Home Of The White Squirrels.
Their street banners: http://www.thom.org/photos/ILOLbanners.jpg

[DecaturHawk]

Illinois is a capitol for a lot of things:

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/ILGRIpurple.html

[Zoning Goddess]

Everyone needs a reason to be proud of their town. Even if it's kind of a stretch. So, are black squirrels especially famous for something? Do they attack people?

My current town used to be the Celery Capitol of the World, but that stopped decades ago. Wonder which town has that honor now?

[btrage]

The squirrels in my neighborhood are evil. I've never seen such evil squirrels in any other place I've lived. They dig our flower bulbs up and then have the audacity to not eat them. The taunt my dog (this is actually quite amusing, especially when he traps them up in the tree)

A neighbor actually started setting traps for them and actually caught one, although I'm not sure what the outcome was. In my opinion, no town should be proud of its squirrels.

[Zoning Goddess]

In my opinion, no town should be proud of its squirrels.

I protect mine. A few years ago, I found my neighbor's older son (older brother of "Fat Boy" who I've referenced before..) walking from his yard to mine with a couple friends and BB guns. Looking to kill squirrels and they'd killed all the ones in their yard. Well, I told him to go away. Then he joined the Marines, and is in Iraq. Guess that killer instinct will manifest itself somewhere...

[Wannaplan?]

Everyone needs a reason to be proud of their town. Even if it's kind of a stretch.

Yeah, welcome to Bloomfield Hills, Birthplace of the McMansion, now that's pride!

[donk]

Wonder if this town and Norwalk should be twinned



I am going to soon post a thread about one of the most depressing rural place I have ever visited. I would rather move back east than live there, that is how bad it is.

[jmello]

The first time I saw a black squirrel was in the Bronx (on the way to see the Sox destroy the Yankees). They don't exist in New England. Our squirrels are all grey.

[spencerplanner]

The first time I saw a black squirrel was in the Bronx (on the way to see the Sox destroy the Yankees). They don't exist in New England. Our squirrels are all grey.

Any day the Red Sox destroy the Yankees is a good day... but you forgot the red squirrels, which are about as abundant as the greys are out here in the woods...

[illinoisplanner]

I guess this has turned into the squirrel thread? Well, I lived in an older suburb for the first half of my childhood, and there was a ton of grey squirrels. Then I moved to my new exurb and there were NONE to be found. Still none to this day. No trees.

Then I went to college, and I saw all these reddish squirrels. Having only seen grey squirrels before, I was like WTF? But I think it would be interesting to see both black and white squirrels. I guess a trip to Norwalk, WI is in order?

[donk]

I forgot to ask if they served squirrel manicotti for dinner?

[Maister]

Wonder if this town and Norwalk should be twinned



I am going to soon post a thread about one of the most depressing rural place I have ever visited. I would rather move back east than live there, that is how bad it is.

Twinning? Surely you jest. Those lowbrow Exeter squirrels don't deserve to share the same trees as high-born Norwalk squirrels. In this world there are squirrels and then there are squirrels.

I say, the nerve of some people....

[Wannaplan?]

Some interesting banners:

The People Street

The Future is Here

Planned Parenthood

Route 66

Conference on fleet management

Directional

Olive Business Association

A proud group of business leaders in Michigan.

[nerudite]

My favourite so far is a sign I just spied on the way back from Jasper this weekend. Evansburg, Alberta: Home of the 'Grouch'. I was intrigued so I looked it up when I got home, and found this little blurb on the 'net:

Evansburg, Alberta - As you drive east from Jasper along Hwy 16 (the Yellowhead Hwy and often refered to as the northern branch of the Trans-Canada Hwy) about 100 km before you reach Edmonton you'll notice an odd little sign on the right side of the road. It's for the community of Evansburg. Every year they have an election. No, not for the mayor, not for a beauty queen, but for Town Grouch. The winner is licensed to pester, harass, antagonize, criticize, complain and grumble without fear of reprisal for the whole next year. You can can have lunch in the local diner. Let's just hope you don't get a waitress who's in training.

[Maister]

The signs as you enter Galesburg, MI proudly announce "Galesburg: voted Michigan's best tasting water" or some such. Guess everybody's gotta be proud about something, why not ground water?

[Suburb Repairman]

My favourite so far is a sign I just spied on the way back from Jasper this weekend. Evansburg, Alberta: Home of the 'Grouch'. I was intrigued so I looked it up when I got home, and found this little blurb on the 'net:

OK that sounds like fun! I have to wonder if the person elected really follows through or not.

[donk]

Guess everybody's gotta be proud about something, why not ground water?

You know you are in rural Canada when the town sign lists its hockey players.

[BeansandCod]

The first time I saw a black squirrel was in the Bronx (on the way to see the Sox destroy the Yankees). They don't exist in New England. Our squirrels are all grey.

AND BOY, ARE THEY FAT!
I swear, they are at the point where you could harness thirty or forty of the little critters and have them pull a float in a parade! And yes, they are evil. I have had endless numbers of bulbs dug up and left. I have gotten to the point where I've had to bury the things way deep so they won't get them, or wait until we're so far into the fall/winter before I put them in so they're no longer interested. Personally, a BB gun would be just fine with me. Do they make silencers for them?

[cch]

Looks like Norwalk isn't the only town proud of their black squirrels.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/set/squirrelsblack.html

This roadside american site is pretty interesting. Thanks DecatorHawk.