The following copyright article appeared in a July 1994 issue of Decorah Newspapers.
Used with permission.
Nordic Fest food booths take 'major blow' in storm
With the 28th annual Nordic Fest less than two weeks away, July 29-31, the Fest suffered a major blow in the July 19 wind storm in Decorah.
The 14 Fest booths received an estimated $10,000 in damages. The booths are used by nonprofit organizations throughout the three-day Fest to serve food and raise funds. Many Norwegian and Scandinavian specialties are featured. Several booths were totally demolished.
Community helps
The Decorah community immediately began helping in the building and repair of the booths. Chuck Lore, who is in charge of physical management for the Fest, said around 40 individuals and business people have helped build four new booths and repair and repaint the rest.
The community also helped with monetary donations. The Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as a central location for donations and offers of help, reported that four major donations of $500 each were given by the Decorah Rotary Club, Bruening Rock Products, Wapsie Produce and Helen Basler. Numerous other donations also were received.
Donations are still welcome at the Chamber office on Winnebago Street, or by writing P.O. Box 364, Decorah, Iowa 52101.
A woodcarving, called the "Storm Troll" will also be raffled to help raise funds.
Every year since 1978, Nordic Fest has hosted a river run and walk that has been routed throughout various parts of scenic Decorah. It can be nice to think about a warm July morning this winter!
This popular Saturday morning event was described as follows in the 2014 Nordic Fest program: Elveløpet — The River Run, 5K walk/run, 15K run. Early registration accepted at Main Visitor Center until noon on Friday— early registration entry fee is $30. Late registration accepted Friday 6:00-9:00 p.m., City Hall and Saturday 6:30-7:00 a.m. Canopy 5 —late entry fee is $35. Elveløpet starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. In 1978, the highlights of the first Nordic Fest Elveløpet included:
107 runners: 34 women and 73 men
In the 15K men's race, Dani Fjelstad of Albert Lea, Minnesota and Paul Mullen of Rochester, Minnesota tied for first place with a time of 50 minutes, 37 seconds. Both were distance runners at Luther College at the time.
Kaia Lybbert of Cresco won the women's 15K with a time of 67 minutes, 35 seconds
Randy Fitzgerald of Decorah won the men's 5K with a time of 21:37
Mary Macal of Decorah won the women's 5K with a time of 28:16
What are your favorite Nordic Fest Elveløpet memories?
The example above from 1985 Nordic Fest promotional materials is a reminder of many years of beautiful culture added to Nordic Fest by the Luther College based Dorian Opera Theater.
Editor's note: With the recent holidays bringing the news of many engagements, what follows is a special Nordic Fest engagement story. Thanks to Janette Rodecap for today's guest post.
I have always loved my hometown and Nordic Fest, but
the 40th Annual Nordic Fest in 2006 changed my life. It was at that Nordic Fest that I became
engaged to my husband, Jeremy Wieck, and it was one of the happiest days of my
life.
Jeremy and I had been dating off and on for about 7
years, but we had recently reunited after a breakup. Jeremy had been to Decorah and to Nordic Fest
before, but in July of 2006, he was having a busy time at work and told me that
he wanted to stay behind in Kansas City.
I drove up alone, and was having a wonderful time catching up with my
parents, brother, and friends. I called
Jeremy on Saturday after dinner at the Decorah Lutheran Smorgasbord to see what
he had planned for that night, and he told me he was going to a barbecue with
friends. Little did I know that he was
actually speeding toward Decorah, nervously repeating his proposal speech over
and over again the whole way.
Jeremy knew that I never missed the Nordic Dancer
reunion on Saturday night. I was a
Nordic Dancer from 1984 to 1993, and I loved the music, dancing, and seeing my
old friends down on the street. Jeremy
had talked to my mom about his plans in advance, and she gave him the phone
number for Ruth Proctor, who was then the director of the Nordic Dancers.
Mrs. Proctor loved the idea of a proposal, and
she suggested doing it during the Halling dance. During that dance, the young men show off by
trying to kick a hat off the end of a broom held up in the air by a young lady,
and Mrs. Proctor told Jeremy that she would make sure I was that young
lady. After the last of the dancers had
their turn, Jeremy would come out of the crowd to propose. Jeremy agreed that
it sounded like a good plan.
A couple of
days later, a reporter from the Decorah paper called Jeremy for an interview
about his plan to propose. The already
nervous Jeremy was really feeling the pressure after that!
As I took my seat on the grass in front of the
Courthouse, I had no idea what was about to happen. Jeremy had already called my mom, dad, and
brother, Brian, to make sure they would all be there for the proposal. The press was there, too. My brother had been going up and down Water
Street telling everyone we knew about the proposal, so they would all be there
to see it. I don’t know how everyone
kept the secret from me, but a proposal was the furthest thing from my
mind.
Jeremy had stopped in Waterloo to
buy a “disguise” – sunglasses and a fisherman’s hat – and he arrived at
Courthouse Square just as the first dance was starting. He was worried that I might see him, so he
hid behind one of the statues on the lawn.
But he wanted to make sure Mrs. Proctor knew he was there, so he kept
signaling to her by waving from behind the statue. He was also nervous about the proposal, so he
paced around so much back there that he just about wore a path in the
grass. He was sure everyone around him
thought he was nuts.
As the performance went on, Mrs. Proctor called for
the alumni to come down and do some of our favorite dances with the current
group, like Sexsmansril and the Old Reinlander.
After the alumni dance, we usually stand behind the orchestra and catch
up a little bit while the current group finishes the performance.
This time, Mrs. Proctor asked me to stay out
on the street and hold the broom for the Halling Dance. That seemed unusual, but not enough to make
me suspicious. I was focused on the
dancers and holding the broom steady, so I never noticed Jeremy coming down
from his hiding place and waiting near the edge of the street behind me. As the last dancer took his turn, Mrs.
Proctor announced that there was one more suitor who was waiting to kick the
hat.
At his cue, Jeremy walked up to me,
and I was shocked to see him there. At
first, I could not understand what was happening, but my heart stopped when
Jeremy started to talk. He explained how
we met and how long we had been together, and that he knew how much Decorah and
Nordic Fest meant to me.
Finally, in
front of all of my family and friends, and what felt like the whole town,
Jeremy got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I joyfully agreed!
At the end of the Halling dance, the winner
carries the girl off the stage, so I jumped on Jeremy’s back for a piggy-back
ride off the street, and that was the photo on the front page of the Decorah
Journal the next day. We still have a
framed copy of that photo hanging in our living room as a memento of a Nordic
Fest I will never forget.
You may contact today's guest post author at j_rodecap at yahoo dot com.
Today's guest post from Decorah Newspapers staff member Roz Weis, a copyright article from 1990, is a good reminder of the tremendous good Nordic Fest has done over the years for area nonprofit organizations, a key non-commercial focus all 50 years that may not be universally understood. Used with permission.
Whether you savored a piece of krumkake or delighted in a spicy varme polser during last weekend's Nordic Fest, you directly helped raise funds for worthwhile causes in the area. Local church groups sponsored Scandinavian smorgasbords and organizers reported standing-room-only crowds. Most churches sold out as avid Fest-goers sampled a delicious variety of local traditional Norwegian foods. Beta Sigma Phi Sorority chapters in Decorah sponsored the varme polser booth on Water Stret all three days of the Fest. The booth served up the spicy potato sausages wrapped in lefse, as well as homemade potato donuts, coffee and soda pop. They volunteers raised approximately $3,500. After expenses, the funds will be used for several worthy causes. Members voted to use the majority of proceeds to purchase playground equipment for the handicapped in the Decorah School System. A portion of the money is annually earmarked for scholarships. Sunflower Child Care Center of Decorah is $4,000 richer after volunteers manned the bratwurst booth during the Nordic Fest. According to Sunflower Director Kathy Schwartzhoff the funds will be used for playground equipment for the new center. The booth served bratwurst and sauerkraut, hot dogs, Norwegian sweet soup and soda pop. The annual bratwurst stand is the major fundraiser for the year for Sunflower workers. Sons of Norway Lodge in Decorah reports a banner year at their booth. The lodge members served lefse, meatballs, ligonberries (straight from Norway) rice cream (a rice dish with almost flavoring and fresh strawberry garnish), and beverages. Sons of Norway District President Don Olsen of Decorah said the booth was popular this year, having sold out of meatballs and lefse by Saturday afternoon. Funds raised in the booth are used to sponsor lodge activities, scholarship programs, and other causes. Nordic Dancers sponsored another downtown food booth during the Fest, serving sandbakkels, rosettes, krumkake and kringle. Proceeds from the booth total approximately $1,500 after expenses and are added to the group's main trip fund. (for a large trip taken near the end of ten years' performing at Nordic Fest and many other events). Decorah Band Boosters report a very good weekend, with proceed totals not available at press time. Coordinator Donna Sailor said the funds will go towards the purchase of new band uniforms at the high school as the program will be enlarged when the high school expands to a four-year program. The Band Boosters served kransekake (Norwegian wedding cake), ice cream sandwiches. lemonade and ice tea. Decorah Jaycees continued a long tradition selling Danish Aebelskivers (a puff pancake served with a variety of sweet toppings), Organizers report a big crowd this year, with a continuous stream of customers during the three-day Fest. The group had sold out by early Sunday afternoon. The $800 in proceeds will used towards the many local organizations and causes supported by the group during the year. The young members of the Glenwood Future Homemakers 4-H Club sold out of sandbakkels during the Fest, with a total amount of proceeds not yet available. Organizers said the funds will be used for the group's summer club trip, and for the community projects sponsored during the year. Waffles with ice cream and fruit toppings drew Fest-goers to the Luther College Basketball team's booth in downtown Decorah. Rolf Kopperud, organized, said nearly $1,000 was raised, with funds earmarked for the team's trip to Iceland or Norway next year. They take an international trip every four years. The Northeast Iowa Refugee Coordination Services Agency sponsored a krumkake demonstration and sale during the Fest for the first time this year. The group raised over $500 after expenses, and matching funds are being donated by the Winnake Branch of Lutheran Brotherhood. The money will be used to help refugees in Northeast Iowa for education purposes, according to Midge Kjome, coordinator of the project. Several other organizations, including the Decorah Kilties Drum and Bugle Corps, Decorah Flying Club, Winneshiek Beef Producers, Winneshiek Pork Producers, American Lutheran Church Men and Good Shepherd Women sponsored booths with Scandinavian baked goods, sandwiches and beverages. As the year of the 50th Nordic Fest is about to start, a toast to 50 years of:
Hard working bakers and cooks
Hard working booth volunteers
Hungry patrons who make a difference for great Decorah area organizations with their Nordic Fest purchases!
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.
The following copyright article by the late Pat Maloney appeared in the Decorah Newspapers following the 1989 Nordic Fest. Used with permission.
The "lasting power" of Decorah's Nordic Fest was demonstrated Sunday by some interviews with "late" fest visitors.
Of 10 visiting couples who gave Decorah Newspapers impressions of their brief stay here, seven drove to Decorah Sunday, missing the first two days of the crowded activity schedule. Many locals consider Sunday the "winding down day" of the Fest, but it was still busy at mid-afternoon.
But the tardy arrivals weren't all because of choice. Melvin and Louise Doty of Grinnell, attending their second Nordic Fest, reporting trying "for the last four or five years to get a motel reservation, and we finally came Saturday after getting in at the Cliff House on a cancellation. We've already made our reservation for next year's Fest."
The Dotys, like most visitors, liked everything about the 1989 Fest that concluded late Sunday afternoon. Louise Doty is the Norwegian in the family, taking her husband to Norway in 1982 and visiting 11 first cousins. The listed their Fest favorites as "the parade, street music, the Nordic trio, sampling food demonstrations, the Wiscandia group, the gospel sing at the theater, story telling, and the First Lutheran Church dinner."
Three sisters from Fargo, N.D. attended the Fest while visiting another sister living in Decorah, Irene Haugen. Attending their first Fest were Grace Gangnes, Frances Dahlen and Ardyce Grant, all of Fargo and of Norwegian descent. They liked "the excellent parade, especially the floats, the various street bands, the crafts and Farm Bureau women's chorus concert at the Methodist Church, and wish we were young enough to ride the train." They reported Fargo has similar food demonstrations at its annual Pioneer Village.
Marshall and Lenora Matejcek (she's the Norwegian) of Cedar Rapids enjoyed the "old Norwegian homes, craft booths, and storytellers, but we were disappointed that we missed some of the activities." Lenora's grandparents came from Norway.
Stop by next week for additional 1989 Nordic Fest visitor impressions!
