Swedesburg holds Midsummer Fest

The annual Midsummer Fest was celebrated at the Swedesburg Parish Hall in Swedesburg on June 22. The families of Swedish immigrants Selma Anderson (Mrs. Victor Anderson) and her brother Manfred Anderson were chosen to carry and place the majstång (maypole) with its decorative flowers. The family history was read Dean Anderson of New London and Edna Scully of Ottumwa, son and daughter of Manfred Anderson, with other family members also contributing. Selma Anderson emigrated to America in 1904 and Manfred in 1913 from the southern province of Skåne, Sweden.

Although rainy weather changed the traditional lawn celebration to an inside performance, participants were treated to an enjoyable evening of Swedish folk music by the ?Ole Olsson?s Oldtime Orkestra? group from Minnesota. Art Bjorngield, Char Bostrom, Bruce Bostrom, Mary Abendroth, and Paul Wilson comprised the musical group. Children and adults joined in at the end of the program with traditional dancing around the majstång. Ice cream and the Swedish-American Museum?s 20th anniversary cake were served at the end of the Midsummer Fest.