Winlock Egg
| Winlock Egg | |
|---|---|
 Winlock Egg, 2007 | |
 | |
| Year | 1923 |
| Location | |
The Winlock Egg is a tourist attraction in Winlock, Washington, United States. The current structure, known as the "World's Largest Egg", is the fourth reincarnation of the original egg.
Background
[edit source]Chicken farms and hatcheries became an economic staple in Winlock, Washington after its founding in the 1870s.[1] By the early 1920s, eggs produced in Winlock were being shipped to New York City and noted to be in "great demand".[2] Egg production increased by the end of 1923 after the implementation of scientific advances within the industry and the installation of a "modern-day", 40,000 capacity egg incubator.[3][4] The town became a central location for egg production in the region, advantaged by the railroad lines through the community. In the 1920s, Winlock was considered the second-largest egg producing town in the United States. By the 1930s, or during peak years, the community was shipping approximately two million eggs and 2.5 million chicks annually across the country.[3][1]
Winlock became known as the "Egg Capital of the World"[a] but by the 1950s, egg farms in the town had waned. The city has held an annual Winlock Eggs Day festival since 1921; the event contains a parade, an "Egg Queen" is crowned, and attendees are offered free egg sandwiches.[3][b]
History
[edit source]The first iteration, known as the "big white egg", was built in 1923 for a celebration of the opening of the Pacific Highway Bridge over the Columbia River between Washington and Oregon as well as to celebrate the expansion of trade between the states.[5] The egg was made of plaster over canvas, which was stretched over a wood frame and painted white.[5][7] For the event, it was mounted onto a Model T Ford as part of a parade of floats and vehicles that traveled from Olympia, Washington to Salem, Oregon on October 23, 1923.[5][c]
The idea for the egg came from John G. Lawrence, the manager of a newly formed egg and poultry co-op as a way to represent the growing industry centered in Winlock in the 1920s. Lawrence referred to Winlock as the "home of the big white egg" in reference to the large eggs produced in the region.[5] During that time, farmers in Winlock were shipping as much as a quarter million cases of eggs to market a year.[8]
The first egg weighed 2,000 lb (910 kg). It was 12 feet (3.7 m) in length and had a maximum diameter of 8 feet (2.4 m).[5] After the parade, the egg was placed on a wooden platform atop a lattice base near the train depot, and the continuance of the display has since remained a source of local pride.[5][1][d]
After 20 years in the elements, the first egg had deteriorated and was replaced by a plastic version made by a new company to the area, the Johnny Simpson's Plastic Company. This version lasted until 1958 when it fell from its rotted platform and cracked. A fiberglass replacement was made but not installed until 1965. Weighing in at 1,500 pounds (680 kg), the fiberglass egg was 15 feet (4.6 m) in length[5] but there were concerns that it was shaped too much like a football.[8] The community created a fenced park, Vern Zander Memorial Park, around the attraction and the egg was labeled with a sign denoting it as the world's largest egg.[5][8]
Another fiberglass replacement egg, donated by Vern Zander, was installed in 1991.[7] Created by Beverly Roberts beginning in 1990,[9] the new 1,200 lb (540 kg) sculpture was part of the Winlock Egg Day Parade before it was placed in Vern Zander Memorial Park on top of a 10 foot (3.0 m)-tall steel support.[5][8]
The feature has been given the moniker, the "World's Largest Egg"[7] and was declared as such by Ripley's Believe It or Not! in 1989.[citation needed] Competition for the actual title includes the Vegreville egg[3][e] and an egg sculpture in Mentone, Indiana, noted to be taller by approximately 10 feet (3.0 m).[7]
Geography
[edit source]The 1991 Winlock Egg is located in Winlock, Washington. The sculpture is placed at Vern Zander Memorial Park, situated at the intersection of Old Highway 603 and Fir Street.[7]
Decorations
[edit source]The Winlock Egg is usually painted eggshell white.[5] In the 21st century, the egg has been painted to reflect certain interests or events, such as an American flag after the September 11 attacks and the Seattle Seahawks logo in the 2010s.[5][8] In celebration of the United States Semiquincentennial, the feature was painted to reflect the anniversary.[7]
Notes
[edit source]- ↑ The city of Petaluma, California also laid claim to being the egg capital of the world during the time.[5]
- ↑ The Winlock Eggs Day festival was first known as, "Poultry and Egg Day", and began as a celebration of a completed road between Winlock and Toledo.[6][5]
- ↑ A sign on the truck hauling the first egg during the 1923 parade stated, "Winlock, home of the white leghorn".[5]
- ↑ Sourcing mentions the first egg was replaced by a tin model. The tin egg, not the canvas sculpture, was displayed on the platform.[1][5]
- ↑ The Vegreville egg is listed to be more than twice the length, and over four times the weight, of the Winlock egg.[10]
References
[edit source]- 1 2 3 4 Baskas, Harriet (2004). Washington Curiosities : Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff (1st ed.). Guilford, Connecticut: Globe Pequot. p. 216. ISBN 0-7627-2276-2. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Notes and Comment on The Old Home Town". The Seattle Star. January 30, 1922. p. 5. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Baskas, Harriet (2010). Washington icons : 50 classic views of the Evergreen State. Guilford, Connecticut: Globe Pequot. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-7627-4968-3. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Washington State Brief News Items". Vashon Island News-Record. December 14, 1923. p. 10. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Banel, Feliks (October 29, 2021). "All Over The Map: A half-dozen half-baked facts about the iconic giant Winlock Egg". KIRO-FM News Radio (Seattle); MyNorthwest.com. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ↑ Roland, Mitchell (June 12, 2024). "Winlock Egg Days Festival gets cracking Friday through Sunday". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Chronicle staff (June 15, 2026). "Winlock's 'World's Largest Egg' sports new patriotic paint job for upcoming America250 and Egg Days". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Rita Cipalla (August 9, 2021). "Winlock - Thumbnail History". HistoryLink. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ↑ George Ostertag; Rhonda Ostertag (2008). Our Washington. Voyageur Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-7603-2920-7. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
- ↑ Allen, Chester (April 4, 2004). "It's no yolk: Alberta town's egg is bigger than Winlock's". The Olympian. NewsBank 101D1001EECA4BB9. Retrieved August 6, 2026 – via NewsBank.
External links
[edit source]
- Lewis County Historical Society and Museum- Winlock Egg, photo, c. 1976
- Winlock Egg at Atlas Obscura
- World's Largest Egg at Roadside America
- Museum Tells the Story of the Winlock Egg, The Chronicle