Posting a recent inquiry to the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, requesting help locating a small town in Idaho called Bumfuck, reminded me of this letter from 1997 to the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau in Iowa…
Dear War Department:
Please send whatever tourist information you have on the Battle of Waterloo. Also, if you have any brochures on the battle itself and what States Iowa was at war with, please include them too. Finally, if you have any action photos or posters of the war that are suitable for framing, it would be really great if you could send those in a crush proof tube.
Please hurry! I’d like to determine whether it’s presently safe to visit Waterloo.
Peace,
“Me”
A Convention Sales Manager with the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau responded with:
Thank you for your interest in our fine city of Waterloo, Iowa. We are a jewel in northeastern Iowa which is home to the Five Sullivan Brothers, My Waterloo Days community festival, John Deere Tractor Manufacturing, Black Hawks Junior Hockey, Waterloo Bucks Baseball, Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony, several theatres, and museums. University of Northern Iowa in nearby Cedar Falls is home to the Fighting Panthers, the Ice House Museum, and Hartman Reserve Nature Center. The Cedar Valley Lake Projects is a credit to grassroots community efforts to enhance the lakes, wetlands, wildlife habitats on the waterways and over 50 miles of recreational trails between these two cities.
In answer to your question regarding the Battle of Waterloo, I have enclosed information researched from the Internet on this topic. The Battle of Waterloo was waged in Belgium in 1815 with Napoleon returning to defeat the British and Prussian armies while they prepared to invade France. Therefore, we do not have any further brochures, pictures, posters or information regarding Napoleon’s conquest.
I have enclosed a Visitors Guide for your perusal. Come visit Waterloo, Iowa, our hometown which has big city excitement and hometown hospitality to offer.
Final Thoughts: It appears the only fighting going on near Waterloo at the time of my letter was done by the University of Northern Iowa Fighting Panthers. Enclosed with the Visitors Guide was a printout of a Web page titled, “Napoléon™ The Waterloo Campaign, 1815.”
If this response is any indication of how thoughtful and helpful the Waterlooians are, and you’re considering a visit, the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau might be a good place to start. Since the Battle of Waterloo is over, please go unarmed.
Interested in seeing how my search for Bumfuck went? Give “Somewhere in Idaho” a read. Finally, one way to learn more about the history of any product or place is to fire off a letter and Write The Company.
