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Most of us, who grew up in the United States, have heard the tall tales of Paul Bunyan, and his faithful gigantic companion, Babe the blue ox. Though his various legends were fun to hear about as a child, many of us don’t know how Paul got his start. Just where did his story come from?
It may surprise you to hear that the popularization of Paul Bunyan began as nothing more then an advertising gimmick for the Red River Lumber Company, in an effort to bring more public support to the logging industry. Much like Joe Camel (of Camel cigarettes) or the Mifflin (tire) Man, the folk lore of dear old lovable Paul started as little more then propaganda, although the propaganda is said to have been based on stories and legends heard around camp fires and such, by loggers in Minnesota (or possibly, French Canada).
James MacGillivray is credited as having been the first person to write one of Paul’s stories down. He published the story first in 1906, and elaborated on the story in The Round River Drive (a different publication) on July 24th, 1910. Though, it wasn’t his story that caught on and made Bunyan popular throughout America.
William B. Laughead, is credited as having started Paul’s fame. He wrote an advertising pamphlet for the Red River Lumber Company, entitled “Introducing Mr. Paul Bunyan of Westwood, California,” in 1914. By the third pamphlet he wrote and illustrated, in 1922, Bunyan was starting to become a household name, not only in various parts of America, but around the world.
Bemidji, Minnesota is considered Paul Bunyan’s home, by many, although the title of “official” home of Paul Bunyan is still under dispute. According to some of the Bunyan Legends, Paul and Babe are credited as having created Minnesota’s ten thousand (or so) lakes, by leaving their footprints, which then filled with water.
As much of a bubble-burster as that news can be, is that any reason to stop retelling the stories of the giant baby that needed five storks, just to be delivered to his parents? Nah. They’re fun stories, if nothing else, that tend to inspire children, and reach the child in all of us grown-ups. I am, personally, a big fan of Babe, and I always will be. I don’t care if he is just the supporting character in a primitive commercial!
Online Resources and References:
American Folklore.net
Paul Bunyan Trail.com
VOA news.com
Mid West Cultural Tourism.com
The “straight dope” on Paul
Answers.com
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