We don't know how it got there or how long it will last, but we have photographic evidence that a strangely official looking portrait of Homer Simspon now adorns the street sign pole on the corner of Williams and Homer Streets (of course) in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood.
We found out about the mysterious street sign a week ago, but had to see it for ourselves.
As you can see in the photo, the green background and silver border almost perfectly match the actual street signs. It's not clear whether the sign, itself, is made of wood or metal, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's wood.
Homer is attached with black plastic cord, not the metal of the official sign, so it's probably the work of a very talented illustrator and "Simpsons" fan, rather than a DPW employee.
A man painting a house across the street said he just noticed the sign a few days ago, so we think it's fairly new. I have no idea how long this awesome tribute will last -- surely a city employee will see it eventually and take it down, right?
But until they do, I'm enjoying this cute and funny little piece of public art.
Mmmmmm ... street sign.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
