Jim Widmer's 'Spirit of Rural Wisconsin: Part II'
This is the second in a three-part series featuring the images of Jim Widmer. Widmer grew up in the Dodge County town of Theresa, population 611 in 1978. His photographs capture everyday life in a small town and embody the spirit of rural Wisconsin. Part Three of Widmer's "Spirit of Rural Wisconsin," focusing on barns in Theresa Township, will appear later this year.
Fish Fry Fridays, 1997-2010
AIn Wisconsin, Friday fish fry dinners are a ubiquitous tradition. Aficionados are always looking for new venues. Why are Wisconsin fish frys emblematic? Many Wisconsin early settlers were German Catholics who were prohibited from eating meat on Fridays, and there were lots of lakes containing an abundance of fish. Over the decades, all around the state local cooks experimented with making a simple menu uniquely their own.
Today a typical fish fry menu consists of beer-battered fried perch, bluegill, walleye or catfish, or cod brought in from the East Coast. The fish is served with tartar sauce, French fries or German-style potato pancakes, coleslaw, and rye bread.
Jim and Shirley Widmer once traveled 235 miles to go to a fish fry. Their journeys have led them to diners, bars, country clubs, veterans' organizations and churches all over Wisconsin. During the course of their 13-year adventure, the Widmers tasted more than 450 unique fish frys in Wisconsin and compiled 16 albums of photographs.
