USA > Illinois > Henry County > Bishop Hill > A history of Bishop Hill, Illinois : also biographical sketches of many early pioneers in Illinois, 100 years > Part 16
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SVITHIOD SINGING CLUB = 1946
STAFFORD
Svithiod Chorus of Chicago, Ill., KNUT HANSON, Director, (They sang before 6,000 Sunday, Sept. 22, 1946
extended on behalf of the chorus by Franklin C. E. Lundquist, Harold Grevin, vice president, and Knute Hanson, director.
Descendants of the early colonists were then introduced by Mr. Nelson, including Elmer Nordstrom, a great-grandson of Dr. Olof Nordstrom, colony physician ; Attorney A. E. Bergland, of Galva, and Julia Johnson, who read a sketch of Bishop Hill history.
Selections by the Svithiod Chorus completed the remainder of the afternoon program. The audience was thrilled by their a cappella presentation of Swedish songs, among which were "De Svenske" (Felix Korling) ; "Sverige" V. Stenhammar) and "Gossen I Skogen" ( A. Soderman). An outstanding English selection sung by the group was Bach's "Now Let Every Tongue Adore Thee."
HUNDREDS INSPECT CHURCH
Following the program hundreds of people lined the street near the Old Colony church to inspect the interior of the state- restored church and to view the countless relics and souvenirs gathered together for the Centennial.
An historical guide was prepared by the state for the con .. venience of sightseers. All names of persons, either donating or loaning exhibits, were included in the book.
Although rain interfered with pageant plans later in the evening, all other events of the program were carried out on schedule for the vast crowd, which had come from parts of the nation to join in the celebration.
Gosta Oldenburg, Royal Consul for Sweden, and Edvard Persson, famous Swedish comedion, were headliners on the Tues- day afternoon program. Dropping from the peak crowd of 8,000 persons on Monday, Centennial go'ers numbered about 3,500, it was estimated.
"Any place where people have suffered and fought cour- ageously for an ideal and a high purpose is holy ground for all who feel close to such pioneers," Mr. Oldenburg declared in opening words of an address in which he stated that Bishop Hill will now take its place with other landmarks in Illinois history. He was introduced by Judge A. E. Berglund, of Galva.
Tuesday's events opened with a commercial parade in the morning in which several fine displays were entered and at noon the Spring Creek Grange served dinner to those on the grounds.
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FROM THE PARADE
"Cornplanting
Edward Person, Swedish Comed- ian entertained the crowd during the celebration.
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Bergstrom of Kewanee, Ill. Mr. Bergstrom is a well-known authority on Bishop Hill History. His Mother was a colonist. Mrs. Bergstrom is a niece to Eric Janson, founder of the colony.
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Galva high school band, directed by Leonard A. Smith, pre- sented a concert to begin the afternoon's program. Mr. Smith led the group in community singing of old favorite songs.
WEATHER IDEAL
Temperatures were ideal and the strong wind of the morn- ing had subsided somewhat by mid-afternoon in the sheltered village park.
Mr. Nelson again welcomed the visitors, saying in part, "The custom of extending a welcome is centuries old, but it has been considered such a beautiful and sincere gesture that nothing has ever been found to replace it. At every gathering in every village or city, in every country large or small, the world over, friends are welcomed."
Selection, "My Old Home Town," by the Bishop Hill girls' quartet, composed of Carolyn Hedstrom, Ardith Anderson, Verla Johnson and Virginia Ericson, was encored by the audience. They responded with a Swedish selection.
Asking God for divine guidance, Rev. C. H. Malmquist, of Chicago, former pastor of the Bishop Hill church, said the in- vocation for the gathering followed by two solos, "Coming Home" (Willeby), and "Tolling Through the Years" (Nesgen), sung by Bryce Nordstrom. Other musical numbers were sung by the Bishop Hill male quartet, composed of Vernon and Harold Nordstrom, John Oberg and Wesley Ericson, who sang "The Heavens Are Telling" (Beethoven) and "Hell Dig, Du Hoga Nord" (Crusell). Mrs. Verna Bowman Anderson was the ac- companist for all numbers. Wayne Hier also sang the "Smorgas- bord" song.
PERSSON ENTERTAINS
Jokes and songs, most of which were in Swedish, by Edvard Persson and his troupe, entertained the crowd as the final num- ber of the afternoon program. Persson, who is well known as the "Will Rogers of Sweden" is now making a tour of America and the Centennial committee was fortunate in securing him for their event.
The troupe also entertained for a short appearance on the evening program which opened with another concert by the Galva high school band.
Dancing to Doc Hunt's orchestra at Modern Woodmen hall was the finale to both Monday and Tuesday evening programs.
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SWEDISH CONSUL SPEAKS
Bishop Hill is now entering a new era, being recognized as a shrine of Illinois to take its place with other landmarks of history, Gosta Oldenburg, Royal Consul General for Sweden, told the Tuesday afternoon crowd at the village's centennial observance.
Mr. Oldenburg recalled that in 1944 he wrote to a good friend, Carl Sorling, in Springfield, asking if favorable action could be expected to save the buildings and famous paintings at Bishop Hill.
His talk, in part, follows :
"Any place where people have suffered and fought cour- ageously for an ideal and a high purpose is holy ground for all who feel close to such pioneers.
"IS HOLY GROUND"
"Here at Bishop Hill where such a large number of Swedish men and women endured incredible hardships, setbacks, pesti- lence and poverty to win through and finally establish security and prosperity is holy ground for a Swede.
"As time goes by, this settlement will attract more interest and become more widely known. We are making the start now of what will become a new era for Bishop Hill.
"The main significance of the Bishop Hill colony lies of course in the religious field. But Jansonism was only the first movement among many similar religious manifestations and as such had a deep meaning and a powerful influence.
"The emigration from Sweden of Erik Janson's followers in the 1840's was the first considerable movement of people from Sweden to the New World since the Delaware expeditions in the 17th century. The religious community at Bishop Hill was organized in September, 1846, before any other Swedish religious community had been founded here.
CREDIT TO ILLINOIS
"The first Swedish Methodist group was organized on December 15, 1846, at Victoria. The first Episcopal parish was organized in 1849 in Chicago. It was towards the maintenance of this church that the famous 'Swedish nightingale,' Jenny Lind, who toured the country in 1850 to 1852 donated $1,500. The first Swedish Lutheran church was organized in 1850 at Andover by L. P. Esbjorn who had brought not less than 60
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followers from Sweden. This was the beginning of the powerful Augustana Synod. The Baptists organized their first parish in 1852 at Rock Island. The Mission Friends organized two groups in 1868, one in Swede Bend, Iowa, and one in Chicago.
"Both the Swedish Methodists and the Swedish Baptists here in America were organized before there were Methodist and Baptist congregations in Sweden and the religious impulse from America, where people were absolutely free to organize new- churches, undoubtedly helped their brethren in Sweden to realize their purpose.
"Isn't it further remarkable to what extent the State of Illinois was the cradle to all these new churches ? Practically all came into being in this state. It must have been a favorable climate which brought all these new religious flowers out of the good earth of Illinois.
EXPLAINS CONDITIONS
"As a Swedish representative I am naturally thinking not only of the United States where I have been sent, and the State of Illinois where I have now lived 10 years, but also of my own country, Sweden.
"One might ask, remembering how many Swedish men and women came to this country to settle here for ever, why did they leave Sweden and, furthermore, why are so few coming now? The answer to the first question which is generally given is that. economic conditions were bad at the time in Sweden and the Swedes have an enterprising spirit and a desire to better their living conditions if they see a chance, even if it means crossing an ocean for good.
"As to the second question, dealing with the well-known fact that the Swedes do not any more emigrate to America in great numbers, the usual answer is that Sweden now has built up its industries to such an extent that it can offer all its sons and daughters a good living. A boy in a cottage in Småland who longs to get ahead does not have to go all the way to America any more. He can make a good living in another part of his own country. So the American quota of immigrants from Sweden has not been filled for 20 years and Sweden today suffers from an acute labor shortage. Sweden is getting prepared to invite workers to come to Sweden instead of seeing her young men depart from her.
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In the case of the Bishop Hill settlement the main reason for the emigration was religious. It was the clearest evidence we have that some sections of the Swedish people in those days had a feeling of oppression and were prepared to risk every- thing to gain more religious freedom. Also in this field condi- tions are fundamentally changed in Sweden today. There are strong religious bodies in Sweden besides the Lutheran State Church and the attitude towards free churches is more tolerant than the early religious rebels would have thought possible. Today State Church pastors even open their churches for other religious meetings and there is wide cooperation in the fields of charity and social work.
"As a Swedish representative I am not unmindful of the fact that the Jansonists left Sweden because they found the conditions intolerable and that their memories of the old country must have been mingled with much bitterness. Sweden can not claim credit for what the Bishop Hill pioneers and their des- cendants accomplished here on the prairie of Illinois. It was their own work for which they should be honored, praised and re- membered. This being said and emphasized here today by me it should, also not be forgotten that these people were Swedish men and women. Sweden had given them strength and stamina, a good moral and cultural background, training and ability to plan and work and build, and these Swedish qualities and virtues must have been the backbone of the colony's economic structure.
WILL BETTER RELATIONS
"From now on Bishop Hill will be better known not only in Ilinois but over the whole country and, besides, has a larger role to play in Swedish-American relations. The colony will be more publicized and attract more visitors. More Americans of Swedish descent or heritage will be interested to come here and more Swedes visiting this country will want to include Bishop Hill in their itinerary. The earlier resentment has greatly di- minished and will disappear entirely. The Bishop Hill colony which did not want a railroad or a highway to interfere with its serene and severe religious life will gradually emerge from its isolation. Thus it will be a new link between America and Sweden and do its share in furthering our cultural relations.
'In this spirit I offer you Sweden's congratulations upon the 100 year anniversary and her best wishes for a bright and happy future."
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MANY OUT-OF-STATE VISITORS
Besides the scores of former residents of the Bishop Hill community from all sections of Illinois who attended the cen- tennial, many from other states also were present. -
Sweden and states bordering on both east and west coasts, the Canadian border and the Gulf of Mexico are represented in the list, as taken from the official registration books :
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Baltimore, Alhambra, California; Mrs. JJames T. Wigren, Ruth Henderson and Morgan Hanson, of Detroit; Philip Nordstrom and Lola Nordstrom, of Cleo, North Caralina; C. R. Lindbeck, of McCook, Nebraskao A. T. Anderson, Amarillo, Texas; Gunnar A. Pearson, Escanaba, Michigan.
Mrs. T. Johnson and Eric T. Johnson, Cherokee, Iowa ; John A. Stonberg, Eugene, Oregon; Gordon Smith and Julia Bergren, Manchester, Iowa; A. A. Beck, Spencer, Iowa; Guilford Beck and Peggy Bairr Beck, Chesterton, Indiana ; Harry Hanson and Clyde F. Atkinson, Detroit; Mrs. Vernon Baker, Central City, Nebraska.
Leonard J. Olson, Los Angeles; Miss Dale Anderson, New York City ; Westerdale Burgess, Mission, Texas; Enid Sundell and E. P. Sundell, Flushing, New York; Mary Nordstrom, De- troit ; Carrie Whitcomb, Los Angeles; M. M. Moudgill, Traun- core, Indiana ; Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Lange, Austin, Minnesota ; Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Johnson and Margaret Johnson, Los An- geles, California.
Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Long, Sacramento, California ; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Engstrom, Genoa, Nebraska; K. G. Wallasen, Goshen, Indiana; Britor Carlson, Holdrege, Nebraska; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mclaughlin, Chowchilla, California; Mrs. C. A. Holmes, Hillman, Minnesota ; Mr. and Mrs. Albin Benson, Dear- born, Michigan.
Betty Erwin and Phyliss Garland, Rochester, New York; D. Bjork Swenson, Slawhult Ryssly, Sweden; Mr. and Mrs. Perry A. Swanson, St. Paul; Mrs. Vincent Nordstrom, Detroit ;r Mr. and Mrs. Howard Headley, Fairfield, Iowa; Effie J. Win- root, Des Moines; Miss Margaret Laub and Mr. and Mrs. Harry F. Homer, Long Beach, California.
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William Juna, Dorothy Hiller, Oakville, Iowa; G. E. Mugrage, Pharr, Texas; Carl R. Johnson, Mansfield, Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. James Larson, Houston, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Swords, El Campo, Texas; Mrs. Bryan Love, Denver; Annie May Oakes, Davenport; Captain J. E. Gabrielson, New York City ; Signe K. Walline and Jessie N. Lundeen, Davenport.
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Fuller, Pleasant Ridge, Michigan; Alice Peterson and Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Swanson, Round Lake, Minne- sota ; Eloise Wibber, Minneapolis; Ed J. Ortberg, Wood River, Nebraska; Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Milbourn, Long Beach, Cali- fornia ; Mrs. Maria Carter, Minneapolis; Inez M. Ericson and Mrs. Mae Ericson, Cassville, Missouri.
David L. Swanson and LaVine Swanson, Denver; Nels Ericson, Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Stonberg, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; C. A. Norlin, Lincoln, Nebraska; Joseph Meknes, Minneapolis; Mrs. Roy Mohler, Davenport; Mrs. Julia Kreider, Ames, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Ericson, Detroit; Mrs. G. H. Cowles, Davenport; George L. Beck, Ames, Iowa.
Mrs. Marguerite Karley, McCook, Nebraska; Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Lindbeck, Salem, Oregon; Mrs. Lavina C. Northcott, Los Angeles ; Mrs. Ellen Alftene, Gowrie, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Mar- tin A. Walline, Turlock, California; Mr. and Mrs. Morris La- Motte, Detroit; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Bloom, Seattle, Washington ; Major and Mrs. Herbert J. Lindstrom, Los Angeles.
Gladys Eschback, Kansas City; Mrs. Ed Johnson, Wild- rose, North Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. M. R. Smith, Kansas City, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Dunlap and Mrs. Julia Bergren, Manchester, Iowa; O. M. Peterson, Whittier, California; Edwin Berg, Davenport; Mr. and Mrs. Arley Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Harold J. Miller, Manchester, Iowa.
Mrs. B. J. Mundy and Irene, Ocala, Florida; Hilmer Soder- kench, Universiletct, Upsala, Sweden; Mr. and Mrs. Bergeprid, Wilmington, Delaware; Mrs. Herbert S. Langfeld, Princeton, New Jersey; Mrs. Oscar Nelson, Teaneck, New Jersey; Mrs. Lillian Chaiser Johnson, Grovetown, Indiana; Mr. and Mrs. C. JJ. Ostrum, Gregory, South Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. Amel Stark, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Oberg and Gloria and Carol, Angus, Minnesota.
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Mrs. N. A. Weinberg, Fresno, California; Mr. and Mrs. V. H. Lininger, Denver; Mina Peterson and Mrs. John A. Eric- son, Winthrop, Minnesota; Mrs. Wallace Youngquist, Detroit ; Claude A. Winroot, Minneapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Schlap- kohl and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kautz, Blue Grass, Iowa; Anne Grantham, Atlanta, Georgia; Mr. and Mrs. Victor Berglund, Des Moines; Betty Jo Beauchamp, Davenport.
Mr. and Mrs. Erik Nord and Dean Johnson, Gary, Indiana ; Oscar Anderson, Round Lake, Minnesota ; Helen C. Lindstrom, and Esther B. Johnson, South Pasadena, California; Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Bruss, Gaylord, Minnesota ; Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Abrahamson, Davenport; Stephen Andersen Jr., Washington. D. C .; Mr. and Mrs. Harley Emery, Bunnell, Florida : Mr. and Mrs. Sigurd Linsde, Dubuque.
Mrs. Esther Wilder, Los Angeles ; Deva Armstrong, Auburn, Nebraska ; Mrs. Margaret Forest, St. Louis; Mary Ewing, South Dakota ; Mrs. John McGuinness, Boston; Garland Beck, Ames, Iowa; M. R. Johnson, Holdrege, Nebraska; Emil Leff, Hector, Minnesota ; Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Cady, Detroit ; Mrs. Fred Falley, New Orleans; Albert Bjorklund, Minden, Nebraska.
Mr. and Mrs. Theo Anderson, Chicago, Ill .; K. Alex Carlson, Chicago, Ill .; Mrs. George Starr, Hillman, Minnesota; Laura Sandquist Lyons, Pasadena, California; Mrs. Duley V. Jenness, Cherokee, Iowa; Mrs. J. Jenness and Patricia Jenness, Quimby, Iowa ; Mrs. Carrie Jenness, Parkland, Washington ; Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Nelson, Red Oak, Iowa; Mrs. Mary L. James, Omaha ; Mr. and Mrs. Harvey L. Peterson, Kansas City.
W. E. Soderberg, Davenport; John B. Nelson, Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota ; Mrs. W. D. Clapp, New York City; Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Erickson, John Ericson and Anna Ericson, Madrid, Iowa ; V. A. Lundeen, Oakland, California ; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Lindstrom and Shirley and Larry, Eugene, Oregon; Vincent Nordstrom, Detroit; Keith Dooley, Los Angeles; Lavern Nelson, Red Oak, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Nelson, Cleveland; Glenwood Erickson and Alvey J. Schonski, Detroit; Kermit A. Stonberg and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Stonberg, Eugene, Oregon ; Jennie Israelson, Hillman, Minnesota; Miss Jessie Polvado, Sacramento, Cali- fornia.
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HISTORICAL PARADE
Life in the early days of the Bishop Hill colony was re-lived for a time' Monday morning through an historical parade in which many of the implements and tools made by the colonists were featured.
A mounted escort bearing the American, Swedish and Christian flags lead the parade followed by the Boiler City band of Kewanee which rode in a horse-drawn band wagon.
One of the most beautiful entries was a float designed in the form of a ship to represent the "Eolus" in which the first Swedish emigrants came to this country. Patriotic colors were used in the decorations and festooning at the top represented the sails of the ship. Galva Creamery Co. entered the float.
A group of young boys in Indian costume and war paint rode horses and one float bore an Indian family beside their tepee.
Perhaps most interesting were the floats which depicted the various work of the colonists, such as the log hewing industry and blacksmithing, sheep shearing, threshing with a flail, pile driving, spinning, baking and broom industry. Majority of the implements in the parade were used in the colony, including a horse-drawn reaper, used in 1872.
Vivian Headland, a colony descendant, portrayed Olof Krans, early painter. There was a religious float with a quartet singing hymns and Rev. C. H. Malmquist, of Chicago, presiding at the pulpit. Native Swedish dances were done by a group of girls on one float while on another, accordionists played Swedish songs.
A horse-drawn cab, a high wheeled bicycle and a Model-T Ford followed by a replica of Uncle Sam concluded the parade. Atty. R. M. Everett was narrator for the parade.
A commercial parade was held Tuesday morning when many exhibits of modern machinery were shown.
Sunday was the biggest day for visitors at the Old Colony church, according to figures obtained from John F. Johnson. A total of 1,300 persons signed their names on the register which has been at the church for several years. Monday's total was 1,200.
"When completed it (Old Colony Church) will be in effect
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a living museum of this early Illinois community of Swedish settlers, complete in all details, including furnishings, just as though we were back in the fifties.
Edvard Persson, famed Swedish comedian, and his troupe were a big hit with the audience Tuesday afternoon and eve- ning, with their songs and jokes, most of which were in the Swedish language. It must have been an exceptional treat for those many attendants to hear their native tongue spoken from such famous entertainers. Among the troupe was Mrs. Persson, who is also an accomplished actress. They were all dinner guests Tuesday evening of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Maxwell and Mrs. J. A. Weece.
Many verbal bouquets were especially given to the male quartet, composed of Vernon and Harold Nordstrom, John Oberg and Wesley Ericson, and the girls' quartet, composed of Carolyn Hedstrom, Ardith Anderson, Verla Johnson and Vir- ginia Ericson. Mrs. Verna Bowman Anderson, of Galva, was in charge of the music and served as accompanist for all selections.
100 TAKE PART IN HISTORIC SCENES
The story of Bishop Hill, from its beginning over a cen- tury ago in Sweden, was colorfully told in pantomine last eve- ning by 100 persons who participated in the pageant directed by Miss Genevieve Lindholm.
Its presentation, postponed Sunday night because of rain, was the finale to the successful Bishop Hill Centennial. Hard- ships and trials of the early colonists, and their long trek from Chicago, and the colony days which were an experiment in co-operative living, were vividly re-told in the five episodes of the pageant.
Attorney R. M. Everett was the narrator for the evening, describing each scene, unfolding the pages of the colony's his- tory. Galva high school band, with Leonard A. Smith as the director, played selections at the opening of the program which was immediately follomed by the presentation of the American flag by Howard Stephenson and John Johnson, and an intro-
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duction by Robert Tarleton. Lois Westlin, of Chicago, sang a solo, "The Settlers of Bishop Hill," after which the band played Swedish selections.
LIST EPISODES
Episodes, from colony life, showed the following secenes : Episode I-Life in Sweden : Scene 1, Swedish dance; Scene 2, religious meeting.
Episode II-Arrival in United States and Bishop Hill; Scene 1, Trip to Bishop Hill from Chicago; Scene 2, first night in Bishop Hill.
Episode III-Life in Colony ; Solo, "Tolling Through the Years," Bryce Nordstrom; Scene 1, sowing grain; Scene 2, plainting corn; Scene 3, harvesting grain; Scene 4, oxboys at leisure ; Scene 5, spinning and carding ; Scene 6, an early school ; Scene 7, dairy maids.
Episode IV-Beginning of discord and the final dissolution of the colony; Scene 1, Hellbom and the Indians; Scene 2, news of Janson's death ; musical interlude.
Episode V-Life continues in Bishop Hill ; Scene 1, changes ; Scene 2, square dance; Scene 3, the wars; Scene 4, finale, after which the audience joined in singing "God Bless America."
MANY TAKE PART
Taking part in the pageant were the following persons: Elmer Nordstrom, Minnie Chilberg, Orlie Chilberg, Helen Hunt, Harry Hunt, Jennie Forse, Eva Stephenson, Iva Scott, Daisy Lindstrom, Hilva Krans, Elvie Houghton, Lester Ericson, C. J. Lindholm, Carl G. Ericson, Anna Ericson, Lillian Minner, Eric Miner, Frances Conrad.
Dorothy Florine, Donald Falk, Peter Nordstrom, John Oberg, Vernon Nordstrom, Harold Nordstrom, Wesley Ericson, Leland Johnson, John Ahlstrom, Glenn Tallberg, Howard Olson, Harvey Nordeen, Everett Wexell, Howard Stephenson, Robert Tarleton, Bryce Nordstrom, Lois Westlin and John Johnson, Emil Ericson.
Stanley Olson, Wayne Chilberg, Orville Ericson, Alfva Borg, Alfhild Oberg,. Florence Anderson, Ardith Anderson, Verla Johnson, Carolin Hedstrom, Virginia Ericson, Ruth John-
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son, Evelyn Sandberg, Janice Florine, Wilma Florine, Irene Olson, Alberta Hedstrom and Pauline Nordeen.
Patty Riner, Jane Craig, Janet Anderson, Barbara Allen, Helen Wexell, Marie Nystrom, Anna Tallberg, Betty Tallberg, Elizabeth Anderson, J. B. Anderson, Joyce Falk, Carol Lind- strom, Robert Olson, Marjorie Olson, Nancy Florine, Marcia Hunt, Mary Lou Anderson, Joan Conrad, Wayne Ericson, Rob- ert Houghton and Dale Anderson.
General committee in charge of the pageant included Miss Lindholm, Dorothy Olson, Violet Lindholm and Katherine Peter- son. Others assisting were Roland Olson, business manager ; Albert Florine, stage and scenery; lights, Charles Johnson, Veran Tillman and Vernon Nordstrom; costumes, Mrs. Myrtle Nordstrom, Mrs. Luella Johnson, Mrs. Vernice Nelson and Mrs. Lillian Miner.
Mrs. Verna Bowman Anderson was the accompanist for all musical numbers.
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The celebration closed Tuesday night with slections by Galva band and entertainment by Edvard Persson, the "Swedish Will Rogers."
LEGENDARY BISHOP HILL "WALL" WAS ONLY A SOD FENCE, HISTORICAL FACTS REVEAL
Bishop Hill, Ill. (Special)-Evidence has been produced to disprove the romantic tale that the legendary Bishop Hill mound south of town, ever served the purpose of a "wall." Material evidence and historical data show it was only a sod fence. The "rampart" is located one and one-half miles south of Bishop Hill.
In order to define clearly their territorial holdings and shut out marauding animals, the early settlers broke 350 acres of sod and built three and one-half miles of fence. Remnants of the sod are still standing in their miniature mound-shap form. The wall started west of Bishop Hill, circled south and then east. More land was later purchased, so the ridge does not mark the entire holdings of the colony.
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