March 24, 2017 at 4:25 p.m.
Hodag included in newest 'Fantastic Beasts' book
City's iconic mascot captures the attention of renowned author
Hodag included in newest 'Fantastic Beasts' book
By Kayla Thomason-
Rowling wrote the book, published March 17, under the name "Newt Scamander." It is a companion publication to Rowling's smash hit "Harry Potter" series.
The Hodag, as well as five other creatures, were added to Rowling's roster of "fantastic beasts" in this edition.
The is how Rowling describes the Hodag in the new book:
"The Hodag is horned, with red, glowing eyes and long fangs, and the size of a large dog. The Hodag's magic resides largely in its horns which, when powdered, make a man immune to the effects of alcohol and able to go without sleep for seven days and seven nights. Like the Snallygaster, the Hodag is a North American creature whose antics have excited considerable Muggle interest and curiosity. It feeds largely on Mooncalves and is consequently attracted to Muggle farms at night. MACUSA's Department of No-Maj Misinformation has put in extensive work to convince Muggles that sightings of Hodags have been hoaxes. It is now confined, mostly successfully, to a protected area around Wisconsin."
Not surprisingly, this news has stirred up some excitement at the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce, the home of the city's Hodag statue.
"We (chamber members) were excited about it because that means more recognition for good ol' Rhinelander," said Maggie Steffen, executive director of the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce.
She said her first thought - besides 'Wow, that's really cool' - was how did Rowling come across the Hodag?
Realizing that this kind of attention could help promote Rhinelander, she tried reaching out to Rowling.
"We've been doing some back and forth and we finally got ahold of what I believe is a good email and I sent an email out yesterday so we'll see where that takes us," she said.
The email mentioned Rhinelander, inquired as to how Rowling learned of the Hodag, and included a request for an autographed book, among other things. Steffen also asked if the chamber could send some Hodag memorabilia to Rowling.
"We're excited and we're trying to let the powers-that-be know what a big deal this is for our community and Rhinelander specifically, because there is only one Hodag and it is from here," she said. "I've always thought that we've done a very good job of embracing it (the Hodag) and promoting it and sometimes we may take the Hodag for granted but a lot of communities are trying to find something to identify them and we have it and it's the Hodag."
Steffen added that it would be really exciting if some portion of a "Fantastic Beasts" movie were filmed in the area.
When asked what she thought the father of the Hodag myth, Eugene Shepard, would think about his creature gaining such widespread fame, Steffen said she believes the notorious prankster would be completely tickled.
"I think about it once and a while and he would probably be just as shocked as we are, in the sense of again we kind of take it for granted and it's our Hodag and who would be interested in that kind of thing, or he could be totally pumping his fists and (saying) 'Yes, exactly what I was trying to do,'" she said with a chuckle.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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