Wisconsin Petition To Change Lake Michigan’s Name Gaining Attention

“What’s up with Wisconsin? Lake Michigan. I mean, come on.”

An online petition coming from our neighbor across the lake.

It asks to change the name of Lake Michigan to “Lake Wisconsin.”

Whether it’s a joke or not, it’s a website that’s getting a lot of attention.

Now word is reaching the lakeshore on our side of the water.

9&10’s Cody Boyer and intern David Lyden went to the shoreline today to learn more about this petition and what people think about it.

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“It’s Lake Michigan. I mean, come on. Get real.”

It all began with a subtle website but when you ask people living near the waters of Lake Michigan, there’s nothing subtle about it.

“Michigan was admitted to statehood in 1837,” says Rick Plummer, executive director of the Mason County Historical Society. “That’s 11 years before Wisconsin…so come on. We’ve got dibs on this body of water, dudes.”

The whole petition started back on April 1st, so the joke? It could very well be there with April Fool’s Day. However, people are bringing a lot of attention to it.

“There was a time when there were seven, eight car ferries running daily and before that, in the 19th century, the latter part, this last score of years in the 19th century, schooners were running out of Ludington on a daily basis,” Plummer says. “It’s split right down the middle.”

The name “Lake Michigan” has been around for quite some time. The state of Michigan might be a little differently shaped, but if you look at maps like one in the Mason County Historical Society headquarters…1839, just an example of how long the lake has been named that way. The lake, itself, was named after the Mitten State in 1679.

“It’s real goofy,” says one resident from Ludington who has lived next to the lake for 50 years. “I don’t…it’s always been Lake Michigan. It’ll stay that way. They can have their half of the divider. We can have our half.”

Another Ludington local says, “I don’t think it’ll get anyone on this side to agree to it.”

This is how you do it in Lake Michigan, according to the folks that frequent this pier to go fishing out here in Ludington, but to them, the thought of naming it Lake Wisconsin is just a little strange.

“I mean, come on, Wisconsin! Let’s get with the program,” Plummer says.

Rick Plummer took notice to the petition early.

Online…they have acquired over 500 supporters.

“500 jokers. Come on,” Plummer says. “500 people with a sense of humor.”

The dispute over Lake Michigan might last for years to come, but in the meantime, that challenge will always be there. And Rick told Northern Michigan’s News Leader he had a challenge of his own.

“Alright, Wisconsin! I’m calling you out,” Plummer shouted to the west over the water. “You come over here and we’ll arm wrestle over it. It’s Lake Michigan!”