Louis Moilanen
Encyclopedia
Louis Moilanen was a Finnish-born giant
, the son of Louis and Annie Moilanen. At the age of 4, he and his family immigrated from Finland
and settled in the town of Hancock, Michigan
in the United States
. Louis Moilanen eventually grew to the height of 236 cm (7'9"), and was known in Michigan as "Big Louie". As an adult he was a miner
and bartender
. He also worked with the Ringling Brothers Circus
as a sideshow attraction to exhibit his great height. Buying clothes was difficult, so the Ed Haas Mens Store in Houghton tailored clothes for Louis and special ordered size 19 shoes, and size 9 stetson hats. Moilanen may have been one of the tallest men in the world at one time, said to be 247 cm (8' 1) tall at his peak, although this remains unconfirmed. In 1913, he became violently ill, and died from tubercular meningitis of the brain. He was buried in a coffin that was 9 feet long and 3 feet wide, and laid to rest at the Lakeside Cemetery just west of Hancock.
Gigantism
Gigantism, also known as giantism , is a condition characterized by excessive growth and height significantly above average...
, the son of Louis and Annie Moilanen. At the age of 4, he and his family immigrated from Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and settled in the town of Hancock, Michigan
Hancock, Michigan
Hancock is a city in Houghton County; the northernmost in the U.S. state of Michigan, located on the Keweenaw Peninsula, or, depending on terminology, Copper Island. The population was 4,634 at the 2010 census...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Louis Moilanen eventually grew to the height of 236 cm (7'9"), and was known in Michigan as "Big Louie". As an adult he was a miner
Miner
A miner is a person whose work or business is to extract ore or minerals from the earth. Mining is one of the most dangerous trades in the world. In some countries miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance....
and bartender
Bartender
A bartender is a person who serves beverages behind a counter in a bar, pub, tavern, or similar establishment. A bartender, in short, "tends the bar". The term barkeeper may carry a connotation of being the bar's owner...
. He also worked with the Ringling Brothers Circus
Ringling Brothers Circus
The Ringling Brothers Circus was a circus founded in the United States in 1884 by five of the seven Ringling Brothers: Albert , August , Otto , Alfred T. , Charles , John , and Henry...
as a sideshow attraction to exhibit his great height. Buying clothes was difficult, so the Ed Haas Mens Store in Houghton tailored clothes for Louis and special ordered size 19 shoes, and size 9 stetson hats. Moilanen may have been one of the tallest men in the world at one time, said to be 247 cm (8' 1) tall at his peak, although this remains unconfirmed. In 1913, he became violently ill, and died from tubercular meningitis of the brain. He was buried in a coffin that was 9 feet long and 3 feet wide, and laid to rest at the Lakeside Cemetery just west of Hancock.