Most people are familiar with the Town of Boulder Junction as the Musky Capital of the World, but it’s now the home to Smokey Bear, again. Smokey Bear is an advertising mascot created to educate the public about the dangers of forest fires. John Anderson is the trade originator and was the Chamber President when he applied for the marketing rights and patent in the 60s. He says he wanted people to recognize the Northwoods as more than a resort market.
“…it would bring people into town. At that time people were so starved; they only had the housekeeping resorts; American plan resorts. In the winter time as we used to say, we were so…. we ate birch bark and washed it down with snowballs.”
Anderson says Boulder Junction claimed the title in the 60s shortly after they won the 20 year fight for the musky capital. He says after the first patent expired in the 80s the chamber didn’t have the finances to renew it.
A patent is good for 20 years, and current Chamber Director Kristin Tichacek confirmed it was recently renewed.
