This is an early real photo postcard of the Paul Bunyan statue in Bemidji,Minnesota, circa 1937-38. The statue was built in 1937, and is about 18 feet tall. The sign, which is partially hidden by the man standing next to the statue, appears to be advertising "Paul Bunyan Bemidji Winter Carnival." At the top of the sign is "…E RIGHTS / …ERVED / WS EXCEPTED." The photo is by "HAK" (Hakkerup). The Bemidji Winter Carnival was held in the middle of January. The 1937 winter carnival attendance was estimated at 15,000 and the 1938 winter carnival attendance was extimated at 100,000.
According to information at Bemidji Online, the statue's measurements were based on those of the Chamber of Commerce president, but the head and shoulders ended up out of proportion because of low light at the top of a tarpaulin teepee used to keep the statue and its builders warm. Personally, I think it is these odd proportions that make the statue so appealing.
It was fun to find your picture of this postcard because I own it too and was wondering what HAK stood for. I also have "Babe, Paul's Blue Ox" postcard, with a car under Babe, which appears to have been taken at the same time. I also have one picturing a statue of Chief Bemidji--not taken at the same time and not a great work of art as a statue and not taken winter as the other two were.
ReplyDeleteAlice