The following copyright article by the late Pat Maloney appeared in the Decorah Newspapers following the 1989 Nordic Fest. Used with permission. The first part of this article appeared last week.
Clarence and Blanche Haas of Dubuque attended their second Nordic Fest, arriving Sunday but still in time to enjoy the "real nice music and dancing, cute little train, polka band and children's activities." Clarence reported working in Decorah with the Civilian Conservation Corps back in 1940, during which the city's system of dikes was built.
Al and Elaine Webbeking of Waterloo attended the 1989 Nordic Fest only on Sunday but described themselves as regular customers.
"We've come about every year for at least the past 15 years," they said. "The Fest is very well organized. We're members of the museum so enjoy that of course. We also enjoy the crafts and demonstrations, and buy all the goodies."
John and Esther McDermid arrived Saturday morning from their home at Lake Kabekona in northern Minnesota. This was their third visit to a Nordic Fest, but the fourth year John has taken carving classes at Vesterheim from Phillip Odden. They expressed a liking for the Norwegian crafts, and were impressed by the "completeness of the Fest program. It's a tremendous undertaking."
After realizing the extent of Nordic Fest activities, Dean and Darlene Michels of New Haven promised "next year we'll come earlier" after witnessing only Sunday's program in their first Fest visit. They enjoyed "different window displays, dancers and quilt show."
Traveling together were Russ and Vicki Warner of Mount Vernon and Elwood and Dorothy Breidenbach of Clinton for a limited Fest stay Sunday. The Warners attended their first last year and were impressed enough to return. They listed their favorites as "the Norwegian history that makes Decorah unique, crafts, the museum and a lot of nice wood crafts."
David and Jodi Buzzell of Davenport and their two children, Nicole and Steven, were appreciative of Decorah's hospitality after arriving Saturday for their first Fest visit. "The people have been really friendly," they said. "There was neat music wherever we went that got you in the spirit. The costumed dancing was really nice and we also like the museum and tasting the demonstration food."
Terri Hamon of Waterloo laughed about enjoying the shopping in Decorah during her first Nordic Fest visit, but she and her husband Paul, and two children also got a kick out of the unusual "window shopping" they were offered here. "We like the Norwegian culture," they said, "and a lot of the elderly generation were doing baking in stores. A lot of artifacts were displayed in store windows, which obviously took a great deal of effort."
Many "neighbors" also paid Decorah Nordic Fest visits. Those contacted on Water Street Sunday gave home addresses as Cresco, Waukon and Calmar.
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