By Scott Mims

The Thorsby skies were as blue as the Swedish flag on Saturday — perfect weather that made for a top-notch Swedish Festival.

This year’s event kicked off with the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” to the town in observance of the 110th anniversary of the founding of Thorsby.

Swedish Festival Committee chairwoman Tracia Bussey said that a record 90-plus booths were set up in Richard Wood Memorial Park — an indication that the event is still going strong.

“It’s exciting,” she said.

Attendance was difficult to estimate, Bussey said, because the festival was spread out across town. Her best guess was between 3,000 and 4,000 attendees. Among them were Ola and Berti Myrvold, residents of Torsby, Sweden; Thorsby’s sister town in the Scandinavian country. Bussey said the couple, who are actually Norwegian, were impressed with the number of young people who attended the festival. Word is that they plan to return next year.

“There were quite a few Swedish guests from Alabama,” Bussey added.

Swedish Fest T-shirts sold out, and copies of a book published last year with historical articles and pictures continued to sell well. The book is still available at Thorsby Town Hall and other locations around town for $10.

Winners of competitions held at the fest were named as follows:

Best-decorated float winners

•First place — Thorsby Mite cheerleaders

•Second place — 4-H Club

•Third place — Thorsby Minor football team

Swedish Fest Car Show winners:

•Best of Show — Jimmy Cummings, 1964 Pontiac GTO

•Top Car — Edward Cornell, 1972 VW Beetle

•Top Truck — Charles Hilyer, 1969 Ford F100

•Top Motorcycle — Dennis Sammons, 1952 Harley Davidson

•Top Car ’99 and up — Jimmy Cummings, 2005 Corvette

•Top Truck ’99 and up — Nicole Hilyer, 2005 Jeep Wrangler

•Top GM — Dirk Lowery, 1968 Chevy Truck

•Top Ford — Dianne Bean, 1968 Mustang

•Top Mopar — Charles Griffin, 1970 Dodge Dart

Best-decorated town storefront winners:

•First place — Hair Design on Main

•Second place — Marcus Insurance/The Money Mart

•Third place — Dari Delite

By Scott Mims

Everything seemed to fall into place for Saturday’s Thorsby Swedish Fest — the weather was perfect, the entertainment was diverse, and the crowds were larger than ever.

Event coordinator and Swedish Fest Committee Chairwoman Tracia Bussey said the largest turnout recorded for a Swedish Festival was about 4,000 and that Saturday’s crowd easily exceeded that number. In addition, there were more Swedes and descendants of town founders in attendance than ever before.

“It’s about as close to perfect as it can get,” Bussey said, as Vasa Drangar, a Swedish men’s choir from Atlanta, entertained the crowd from the Richard Wood Park pavilion.

This year’s Fest coincided with the statewide effort known as Alabama’s Year of Small Towns and Downtowns. Before the festivities began in the park, a historical marker was unveiled in front of the Thorsby Fire Department surrounded by a new Scandinavian flag court. During the unveiling ceremony, Vasa Drangar sang each Scandinavian national anthem in its native language, finishing with Sweden’s anthem. Also looking on were many descendants of early town settlers and CEOs of several Scandinavian businesses. The businessmen spent several days in Chilton County looking at potential opportunities for expansion, while the descendants met Friday night in a special reunion at Helen Jenkins Chapel.

While plans are not yet in concrete, Bussey said many of the descendants indicated they might make Thorsby an annual gathering place each year during the Swedish Fest.

If one thing made this year’s festival imperfect, Bussey said, it was the lack of Swedish cuisine. Next year she plans to line up a caterer to be able to offer authentic Swedish food.

She thanked all who had a part in organizing the fest.

For more photos from this year’s Thorsby Swedish Festival, see upcoming editions of The North Chilton Advertiser.

By Scott Mims

History will be made Saturday if all goes as planned during the annual Thorsby Swedish Fest.
The all-day festival will be packed with so many activities that there will be something for everyone — whether you’re a serious history buff or simply someone who likes to watch parades.
The big day will start with the Swedish Fest Parade at 9 a.m. The parade will line up in front of the old sewing factory at 8:30 and circle through town, making its way past Richard Wood Park and the downtown area.
Anyone can enter a float in the parade, as long as they arrive on time to line up. Three cash prizes of $75, $50 and $25 will be awarded for the best decorated floats.
At 10 a.m., the town will turn its attention to the Scandinavian flag court in front of the Thorsby Fire Department just off Highway 31. There, a new historical marker will be unveiled in observance of Alabama’s Year of Small Towns and Downtowns.
During the unveiling ceremony, Swedish men’s choir Vasa Drangar of Atlanta will perform.
“The marker will commemorate our founders of the town,” said Tracia Bussey, Swedish Fest Committee chairwoman.
Those who arrive at Richard Wood Park for opening ceremonies at 10:30 will have already missed a lot. But, fortunately, there will still be much to come.
During opening ceremonies, the town will welcome special guests including CEOs of several Scandinavian companies and a representative of the Swedish Embassy in Washington, D.C. Bussey said the representative will likely be the counselor for trade and economic affairs. Town leaders will present gifts to these and other guests scheduled to appear.
Vasa Drangar, along with several local acts, will provide entertainment at Richard Wood Park until about 2 p.m. Bussey said the choir will be wrapping up its act at about 12:30 p.m.
All morning and part of the afternoon, Richard Wood Park will be a hub of activity with more than 60 arts and crafts booths, food vendors, games and other attractions. A car show will be held in front of Thorsby School, and the historical museum in Helen Jenkins Chapel will be open to visitors.
But that’s not all. The inaugural Swedish Fest Dance will commence at 6 p.m. from Hunt Memorial Gym at Thorsby School. The guest band will be Cuttin’ Loose, a classic rock band from Birmingham.
Admission to the dance is $1 at the door.
“We’re getting word that a lot of Thorsby High School alumni are using that (the dance) to get together and have an informal reunion,” Bussey said.
A few valuable mementos may be purchased during the Fest, such as Swedish Fest 2010 T-shirts for $10 each and a 100-plus-page book featuring articles and historic photos from the town’s past for $10 each.
John Thorson of Colorado Springs, Colo., a grandson of Thorsby founder T.T. Thorson, provided many photos for the book, Bussey said.
On Friday night, the eve of the Swedish Fest, a reception for descendants of early town settlers will be held at Helen Jenkins Chapel at 6:30.
Bussey said descendants are coming from all over the U.S.
“The invitation is open to anyone who would like to attend if they are a descendant of early settlers of the town,” she said. “There will be light refreshments. It’s just an opportunity to meet and greet.”
Bussey said this year’s Swedish Fest will be one to remember, especially for those with deep family roots in the town.
“I feel like this particular festival is pretty monumental. These people may never be together like this ever again, so to me this makes it a very special year,” she said.

By Scott Mims

A new sign beside Highway 31 welcomes motorists to the town of Thorsby and also bears a reminder of the town’s Scandinavian origins.

The sign, funded by the Thorsby Swedish Fest Committee, was a collaborative effort by several groups and individuals.

Located at the south end of town near Burnett Farms, the sign reads: “Welcome to Thorsby — A Scandinavian Settlement” and has two images of Thorsby’s Coat of Arms, which was designed by Swedes and voted on by town residents during last year’s Swedish Festival.

“I think it’s something that everyone in the town can be proud of,” said committee chairwoman Tracia Bussey. “We feel like it rightly represents what Thorsby’s all about.”

The letters and background are made of a high-density foam material designed for use in signage. The pieces were cut by members of the Cabinet Making and Carpentry Department of LeCroy Career/Technical Center in Clanton, using a CNC (computer numerical controlled) router.

Course instructor Jason Sosa said students designed and illustrated the sign using the computerized tool.

“It’s just a great collaboration with the career/tech center being able to work with a local community to provide a service,” Sosa said.

Thorsby resident Nancy Huett painted the sign, and her husband, Tom Huett, helped hang the sign along with Thorsby Historic Preservation Committee member Glen Littleton.

Town council member Marvin Crumpton oversaw the construction of the rock wall. City workers poured the concrete, and the wall and rock columns were contracted out. Raymond Huffstutler made and fitted the metal brackets.

Two signs were made, and the total cost for both signs and landscaping will come to about $8,000 — to be paid for with proceeds from past Swedish Festivals.

“We have the sign for the other end of town. We just lack a piece of property to put it on,” Bussey said.

Bussey thanked members of the Swedish Fest Committee, the Thorsby Historic Preservation Committee, Mayor Dearl Hilyer and the town council, and anyone else who volunteered their time or support.

By Scott Mims

The renovation of the old Thorsby Elementary School lunchroom will not be completed in time for this year’s Swedish Fest due to building code issues, the town council learned Monday night.
Tracia Bussey of the Swedish Fest Committee said the renovations could not continue without a certified architectural plan as required by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. This is because the building is being renovated for public use and it is owned by a municipality.
Initially, the old lunchroom was going to serve as the gathering place for a meeting of descendants of Thorsby’s founders on Oct. 15, but unexpected delays have forced a change of venue. The meeting will now be held at Helen Jenkins Chapel on Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
“We did not realize we would have to pursue an architectural drawing, so we did not figure that into the cost of the renovation,” Bussey said.
The committee had estimated the cost of plans would not exceed about $1,000, but Bussey estimates the winning bid will be at least $2,500. While the group plans on pursuing the project, the timing is not what they had hoped.
“It’s all on hold for now,” Bussey said.
Bussey hopes to complete the renovation so the structure can be rented by groups and families for events. This would free up Helen Jenkins Chapel for much needed repairs.
“That building is used weekly,” Bussey said, noting that the windows are in need of additional repair and there are soft spots in the floor.
Ed Angel of Clanton has put more than 400 hours into the old lunchroom, mostly for window repair. Bussey said his generosity has saved the town a lot of money.
“That kind of craftsmanship would normally be about $70 an hour,” she told the council.
The Swedish Fest Committee uses funds raised from past Swedish Fests to pay for projects in the town.
In other business, the council will hold a work session at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 18, followed by its regular council meeting at 7 p.m. The primary topic of discussion will be the town budget.
For more information, call Thorsby City Hall at 646-3575.

By Scott Mims

Chilton County Commissioners and other leaders will have the opportunity to meet CEOs of several Scandinavian companies next month when Chilton County hosts a trade mission.
The businessmen plan to stay in Clanton from Oct. 13-15, leading up to the Thorsby Swedish Festival on Saturday, Oct. 16. They will attend the festival as well.
During their time here, the CEOs will look at property for the potential expansion of new industry.
“We’re looking for 10 to 12 companies. We’ve already got five confirmed,” said Tracia Bussey, chairwoman of the Thorsby Swedish Fest Committee and board member with CAWACO Resource Conservation and Development.
Bussey extended an invitation to commissioners during Monday morning’s regular meeting. She said participants would get to see a presentation of industry and technology the companies could bring to the area.
In a similar venture, she said, five companies came to the U.S. in 2009 to look at potential property in the Southeast, and one located to Louisiana.
“We thought if we could bring them in and concentrate their attention here–if we could get just one company it would open the door for others,” Bussey said.
Bussey is also a board member of the Scandinavian-American Economic Development Alliance, which has been successful in getting green tech companies to locate in other states.
The effort is sponsored by CAWACO and is being funded through sponsorships and donations, Bussey added.
In other business, Tax Assessor Rex Cleckler submitted a contract from The Atlantic Group for updated aerial photography of the county to be done this winter.
“It’s something that the state requires to be done,” Cleckler said, adding that money was available in the department’s budget.
Because the item was not subject to bid, the commission voted to go ahead and approve the contract.
The commission also:
•Voted to hire Chris Moore as chief appraiser at the request of Cleckler
•Voted to fill the position of personal property appraiser, after the retirement of Lynn White, at the request of Cleckler
•Allowed the hiring of an employee to fill a vacant slot in the Tax Collector’s Office at the request of Tax Collector Tim Little
•Voted 4-3 to fill a vacancy in the commission office as requested by Administrator Vanessa Hendrick (Allen Caton, Red Turnipseed, Bobby Agee and Tim Mims voted in approval)
•Entered into a contract with the Shelby County Detention Center for the housing of juvenile offenders.

By Scott Mims

The town of Thorsby’s annual Swedish Festival has maintained a tradition of celebrating the town’s heritage — but in the past, the fest has offered very little Swedish culture. That will change this year.
The Oct. 16 event will offer authentic Swedish cuisine, the harmonies of a Swedish choir and the dedication of a Scandinavian flag court in the town center. It will also likely draw a few Swedish dignitaries.
Eva-Lena Gustavsson, town council chairwoman of similarly named Torsby, Sweden, has requested an invitation to the festival, said Tracia Bussey of the Swedish Fest Committee.
“She has let us know she is extremely interested in attending and possibly bringing some of the council members with her,” Bussey said.
With the help of Per-Erik Persson of the Scandinavian-American Economic Development Alliance, Thorsby is continuing to pursue a sister city relationship with Torsby. Bussey said Gustavsson is “definitely interested” in pursuing such a relationship.
Torsby is known for being a center of American culture, particularly American music culture, in Sweden. The town, which has a population of about 6,000, regularly hosts bluegrass festivals and other events.
Torsby-based bluegrass band G2 performed here at Richard Wood Park in July and plan to return in the future.
“They are extremely interested in our music culture as well as other areas of our culture,” Bussey said. “They’re very interested in us. That could mean some open doors.”
Also on the invitation list is Swedish Ambassador Jonas Hafstrom. Bussey is confident that either Hafstrom or one of his staff members will attend as a representative of the Swedish Embassy, known as the “House of Sweden” in Washington, D.C.
During the three days leading up to the festival, from Oct. 13-15, Chilton County will host a “trade mission” for several CEOs of major Swedish companies. The mission is sponsored by CAWACO Resource Conservation and Development.
The businessmen will meet at Holiday Inn Express and the Alabama Power Conference Center in Clanton, where they will be exposed to potential economic opportunities in Chilton County.
“The Swedish Fest will be the finale for the CEOs that are coming in that week,” Bussey said. “It’s going to be a big week. Having the Swedish Festival here lets them know there is a connection with their country.”
The morning of Oct. 16, entertainment in Richard Wood Park will be provided by Swedish men’s choir Vasa Drangar of Atlanta.
The group will also perform during the dedication of a historical marker in observance of the Alabama Year of Small Towns and Downtowns. The marker will be unveiled in the center of the new flag court, and the group will sing the national anthems of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and the United States.
As for the Swedish cuisine, there are three primary foods representative of the culture — meatballs, potatoes and lingonberries. All of these, in addition to other items, will be served at the Swedish Fest.
“That’s as Swedish as it gets,” Bussey said.
To apply for a booth or for more information, call Bussey at 217-0978 or visit thorsbyswedishfestival.com.

By Scott Mims

Nearly 20 people were in attendance Saturday for the dedication of Thorsby’s Scandinavian Cemetery and the unveiling of a historical marker at the site, located on County Road 37.

Among those present were descendants, members of the Thorsby Historical Preservation Committee, other citizens, and representatives of the Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Cemetery Preservation Alliance.

“Someone is to be congratulated. The cemetery is beautiful,” said Tom Wingfield, who made the trip from Atlanta with his wife, Carolyn.

Wingfield has several family members buried in the cemetery, including both sets of great grandparents. His great aunt was the organist in the Concordia Lutheran Church, the church that once owned the cemetery.

Wingfield said the last time he visited the site was in 2003, and his recollection was of an old, grown-up cemetery. But Saturday, he said, was a different story.

“It’s gorgeous now,” he said.

Ralph Mason, whose grandparents, Rueben and Charlotte Foss, are buried there, was grateful to the town of Thorsby and the organizations and volunteers that helped turn the site into something to be proud of again.

“It’s a great heritage, and I can’t commend them enough for taking care of this cemetery and promoting the Swedish history of Thorsby,” he said. “It just makes you feel really good.”

Lee Anne Wofford of the state Historical Commission was accompanied by Phyllis Armstrong of the state Cemetery Preservation Alliance.

“Not everybody gets one of these,” Wofford said of the marker, which is given only to sites listed on the state historic register.

Tracia Bussey of the town’s preservation committee recognized the Chilton Cemetery Association for being proactive in getting the site listed. She also thanked town leaders and others who assisted.

“It’s a tranquil place to come out and just spend a little time,” Bussey said.

The following is the text as it appears on the historic marker:

“In 1896, Swedish settlers organized the Concordia Lutheran Church and acquired this land for the Concordia Cemetery, later known as the Lutheran Cemetery. This is the former site of Stassburg School. In the 1980s it became known as the Scandinavian Cemetery since most of those laid to rest here were Lutherans, not only of Swedish descent, but also of Norwegian, Danish and Finnish. They were primarily from the upper mid-western United States and desired a better climate and living conditions to work in and raise their families. They cleared the land, built homes, planted orchards and vineyards, established businesses, schools and churches. They developed a thriving town where they enjoyed social gatherings, band concerts, festive celebrations, and built lifelong friendships. This marker was placed here in 2010 by descendants of the Scandinavians laid to rest here and by the Thorsby Historical Preservation Committee to remember these people who founded the town of Thorsby.”

By Scott Mims

Intriguing stories abound with Thorsby’s historic Scandinavian Cemetery — the site of nearly 100 burials, many of which are relatives of the town’s first settlers.

Among the most well-known people buried there is Gustaf Berlin, an interior decorator who worked in the Florida home of P.T. Barnum, American showman and founder of the circus that became Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Some of Berlin’s work can be found in Thorsby, such as the home that occupies the corner of Third Street and Peterson Avenue. Sadly, a beautiful mural painted by Berlin was lost forever when the Concordia Lutheran Church was torn down to make way for the local telephone office on Jones Street.

“He worked for a lot of well-known people all over the United States,” said Tracia Bussey, chairwoman of the Thorsby Historical Preservation Committee.

Then there’s the tale of Nester Oberg, a Norwegian who made his home in Thorsby, who, according to the town’s historical records, was given a “lift” by a tornado that passed through the area.

“He was picked up in his chair and sat down outside in his yard and survived,” Bussey recounts.

The town was recently contacted by descendants of Oberg who had traced their ancestry and wanted to find out more information about him.

There are many others of Scandinavian descent buried in the cemetery, including two relatives of Thorsby founder T.T. Thorson. The majority were Lutherans, as the land was owned by the Concordia Lutheran Church.

In order to recognize the cemetery’s rich history and heritage, the Thorsby Historical Preservation Committee has scheduled a dedication ceremony for Saturday, July 10 at 10 a.m. During the ceremony, a historical marker will be unveiled and refreshments will be served.

Bussey said the marker was purchased with donations to the committee by family members of the deceased. The total cost came to more than $1,900. She said family members responded generously to letters sent out by the committee.

“They were very glad we were working on getting recognition for the cemetery where their ancestors are buried,” Bussey said.

The Chilton Cemetery Association, a local nonprofit group, is credited for getting the cemetery listed on the state’s historic cemetery register. The committee also set out to get the site registered, but CCA had already taken steps to do this.

“We were very excited about it. We went right to work collecting donations for the marker,” Bussey said.

The general public is invited to the dedication. The Scandinavian Cemetery is located on County Road 37 across from Orchard Hills Subdivision. Pictures can be found on a link to CCA’s website at townofthorsby.com.