By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Aug 28, 2001 at 4:54 AM

Where's Ed Gein's house? Where can I see Wisconsin's largest private collection of military vehicles? What the heck is that 55-ton boulder doing in that house in Fountain City?

These are just some of the questions Chicagoan Jerome Pohlen addresses in his latest book, "Oddball Wisconsin," published last spring in paperback by Chicago Review Press.

In nearly 250 pages, Pohlen -- who also penned "Oddball Illinois" -- points out some of the really strange places and sights in the state. Pohlen holds a special place in his heart for the oversized novelty animal statues used throughout Wisconsin as advertisements and markers for trucks stops, restaurants and the like.

So, you'll get lots of background on the big chicken and the remains of the world's largest badger in Birnamwood, the Paul Bunyan statue in Eau Claire, the big viking in Buffalo and, well, you get the picture.

"Oddball Wisconsin" also has details on some of the most unusual public art in the state, like Mary Nohl's legendary art yard in Fox Point, James Tellen's woodland sculpture garden in Sheboygan and The Foreverton in Prairie du Sac.

Find out where Chris Farley is buried or where Thornton Wilder was born. Learn about the acrobatic goats in Spring Green or where Dillinger's machine can be seen (Racine).

If you think you know about Wisconsin, you'll be surprised to find that a cat from Illinois knows it better...at least he knows the weird stuff better!

Check out "Oddball Wisconsin" and you'll get some great ideas for weekend trips, learn some fab Dairyland trivia and perhaps get the urge to create a little something for inclusion in the second edition!

"Oddball Wisconsin" is available at all good bookshops.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.