Dalesburg Historical
History, heritage, community, and events
Archive
Spring 2022!
It seems like a long time… That is an expression that I find myself using quite often these days. As we begin to think about events and activities in 2022, we are reminded of the lack of events and activities these last two years. We have been required to change our way of doing things – some good and some not so good. We hope for normalcy in 2022!
Midsummer is scheduled for Friday, June 24, 2022. We will be hosting the band Jaerv from Gothenburg, Sweden. Please visit their website at: www.jaerv.com/
We have not celebrated Lucia in our usual fashion for two years. In the spirit of optimism I’m scheduling Lucia for Sunday, December 11, 2022!
During these last two years we have used some of the Arneson-Hoglund funds to place signs in the area of the unmarked graves at Dalesburg Lutheran Church and at the Clay Point Cemetery. Family history inquiries have still been received.
We are still in the midst of celebrating the 150th Anniversary of many things in Clay County, Dakota Territory / South Dakota. There’s still time to check your family histories and August Peterson’s “Swede Book” to see if your family filed a homestead claim in Clay County 150 years ago. These years have seen and will see the 150th Anniversaries of many of the homestead claims in Prairie Center, Garfield, Glenwood, Pleasant Valley and Riverside Townships, Clay County. The summer of 2018 marked the 150th Anniversary of the first Swedish homesteaders to come to Clay County, Dakota Territory. In 2019 we celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the Celebration of Midsummer. We celebrated the 151st Midsummer in Dalesburg on Friday, June 25 and Sunday, June 27, 2021. Dalesburg Baptist Church celebrated its 150th Anniversary in July, 2021. These years will also see the 150th Anniversary of the country schools that educated and help assimilate the immigrant children of our community. The schools that taught our ancestors to speak English!
Dalesburg Lutheran Church was 150 years old in 2021. The present towers and basement were 100 years old in 2020. There will be a “Cemetery Walk” at the Dalesburg Lutheran Cemetery on Sunday, May 22, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. Welcome!
It’s time to renew / join Dalesburg Scandinavian Association! We appreciate the support your memberships (both active and inactive) give to our organization. To join or renew your membership in Dalesburg Scandinavian Association, please complete the enclosed form and return it with your membership dues of $3.00 / person / year. Please check that your name and address are correct on the label. Please make necessary changes. It would be helpful and an act of kindness to the officers if you would respond before April 1, 2022! Financial information furnished upon request.
Please consider a membership in the Friends of Midsummer. If you would like information, please contact me. Thank You for your consideration.
Thank You for joining or renewing your membership! Thank You to those of you who make additional financial contributions! Thank You to those of you who give of your time, effort and talents to Dalesburg Scandinavian Association here in our community throughout the year! Thank You to those of you from a far who support Dalesburg Scandinavian Association! Your support is appreciated and needed.
Tack så mycket! Thanks so much!
Ronald Johnson, President & Membership Officer
E-Mail: ron@dalesburg.org Tel: 605-253-2575
Dalesburg Heritage Website: www.dalesburg.org
Dalesburg in Cyperspace. If you can’t visit us in person, visit us in Cyperspace!
Midsummer
Lucia 2019
Christmas Eve 2019 at Dalesburg Lutheran Church
The Dalesburg Heritage Website has new items!
Dalesburg Heritage Website: www.dalesburg.org
(and www.angelfire.com/sd/dalesburg99/ is still in cyperspace).
Dalesburg Midsummer Festival on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Dalesburgmidsommar
Dalesburg Lutheran Church Website: www.dlc-pvlc.org
Komstad Covenant Church Website: www.komstadchurch.org
Dalesburg Baptist Church Website: www.dalesburgbaptist.org
“Welcome to Peterson Farm:” www.petersonfarmsd.com/
Nora Store: www.norachristmas.com
Clay County Historical Society: www.cchssd.org/
Clay County Historic Preservation Commission: www.cchpc.org
Clay County Country Schools Project Website: www.flickr.com/photos/46877599@N08
Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center: www.augustana.edu/swenson/
Swedish-American Historical Society: www.swedishamericanhist.org
American-Swedish Institute: www.americanswedishinst.org
National Music Museum: www.usd.edu/smm/
South Dakota State Historical Society: www.history.sd.gov/
Books for Sale! HISTORY OF THE SWEDES WHO SETTLED IN CLAY COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA AND THEIR BIOGRAPHIES by August Peterson (1947) $25.00 / book plus postage, handling etc. Available from Ron Johnson (ron@dalesburg.org)
DLC Midsommar Items Available
If interested in ordering please contact Rachel Olemann at 605-321-7262 or via email droelmann@gmail.com
Coffee Mug – $15
T-Shirts – $20
Polar Tumblers – $25
Lefse Sticks – $20
(Lefse Sticks are sold out but if there is enough interest we can reorder)
Thank you!
December 2020
Thank You for your support during the pandemic. Thank You for your financial support and patience during these last ten months.
We decide to postpone the Annual Meeting of Dalesburg Scandinavian Association and to cancel the Lucia Celebration in December.
Midsummer 2021 is scheduled for Friday, June 25 and Sunday, June 27, 2021, but stay tuned for more information.
Midsummer 2021 received a grant from the American Scandinavian Foundation’s Scandinavian Folk Arts & Cultural Traditions: Public Programs. The band Jaerv (www.jaerv.com) from Gothenburg, Sweden has penciled Midsummer 2021 into their 2021 United States tour. But… we will have to watch the course of the pandemic. Again… stay tuned.
You can follow up on Midsummer 2021 and other things, by contacting me at ron@dalesburg.org or 605-253-2575. You can also visit: www.dalesburg.org
Pandemic or not, we are still in the midst of celebrating the 100th or 150th Anniversary of a number of things. 2018 saw the 150th Anniversary of the coming of the Swedes to Clay County, Dakota Territory. In 2019 we celebrated the 150th Anniversary of celebrating Midsummer in Dalesburg. This year Dalesburg Lutheran celebrates the 100th Anniversary of its basement and two towers. Next year Dalesburg Lutheran Church and Dalesburg Baptist Church celebrate the 150th Anniversary of their founding. In the coming years, many former country schools in Clay County will also see the 150th Anniversaries of their founding. The pandemic cannot stop us from observing these anniversaries in some way!
These years also mark the 100th Anniversary of the Spanish Flu in our community, state, nation and world. The effect of the Spanish Flu is found in the records of Dalesburg Lutheran Church and is found in the stories of those affected by the disease – stories passed on to future generations. Just recently I learned how the flu of that period may affected my own family.
We have purchased a sign for the Clay Point Cemetery and a sign for the unmarked graves in the churchyard of Dalesburg Lutheran Church. The signs were purchases with funds given by Karin & Winfield Arneson and Virginia Hoglund of Michigan in memory of C.R. Hoglund.
Thank You for donations to Dalesburg Scandinavian Association and Thank You for donations to the Friends of Midsummer last winter or spring.
Have A Good Holiday Season however you celebrate it! Think… and Stay Well!
God Jul och Gott Nytt År! / Good Yuletid and Good New Year!
Ron Johnson, Dalesburg Heritage
Books for Sale!
HISTORY OF THE SWEDES WHO SETTLED IN CLAY COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA AND THEIR BIOGRAPHIES by August Peterson (1947) $25.00 / book plus postage, handling etc. Available from Ron Johnson (ron@dalesburg.org or 605-253-2575)
Here’s something to do during the pandemic! Check out these websites!
Dalesburg Heritage Website: www.dalesburg.org
(and www.angelfire.com/sd/dalesburg99/ is still in cyperspace).
Dalesburg Midsummer Festival on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Dalesburgmidsommar
“Welcome to Peterson Farm:” www.petersonfarmsd.com/
Clay County Historical Society: www.cchssd.org/
Clay County Historic Preservation Commission: www.cchpc.org
Clay County Country Schools Project Website: www.flickr.com/photos/46877599@N08
Dalesburg Lutheran Church Website: www.dalesburglutheran.org
Komstad Covenant Church Website: www.komstadchurch.org
Dalesburg Baptist Church Website: www.dalesburgbaptist.org
Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center: www.augustana.edu/swenson/
Swedish-American Historical Society: www.swedishamericanhist.org
American-Swedish Institute: www.americanswedishinst.org
National Music Museum: www.usd.edu/smm/
The image on the back page is used with permission from Jana Johnson Schnoor, Scandinavian Greetings, Iowa City IA. Please visit: www.janajohnsonschnoor.com/index.html
Dalesburg Scandinavian Association – Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of Dalesburg Scandinavian Association has been postponed
Midsommar Weekend – At Home!
Celebrate Midsommar on June 20 with a virtual weekend hosted by the American Swedish Institute! ASI is offering an online Midsommar Celebration with activities and resources that you can enjoy at home, in the park or wherever you are.
Visit the event page at https://www.asimn.org/midsommar2020
Upcoming Events!
Dalesburg Scandinavian Association announces these upcoming events!
Welcome! Invite Your Friends & Relatives!
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 in Beresford
Annual Meeting / Luncheon
Call Connie Richards (605-763-5128) for information and to make a reservation.
Call Ron Johnson (605-253-2575) with nominations for the Lucia Court.
Sunday, December 15, 2019; 3:00 p.m.
at Dalesburg Lutheran Church
The 42nd Celebration of the St. Lucia Tradition in Dalesburg
Friday, June 19 and Sunday, June 21, 2020
at Dalesburg Lutheran Church
The 151st Annual Midsummer Festival in Dalesburg
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Wausa Swedish Smörgåsbord in Nebraska.
Contact: Doug Johnson (402-586-2266) for information.
December 2019
Lutfisk and Meatball Supper at St. Paul Lutheran Church
Contact Pat Olson (712-277-4043) for information.