Norway Centennial

Norway's Centennial Celebration was an outstanding celebration for a village of 66 inhabitants.  The whole community had worked for weeks preparing for this event.  The men had grown beards, and worked steadily for a long while on floats for themselves and other things planned, and the women had made beautiful dresses and sunbonnets for themselves and their young daughters such as the pioneer women had worn.  They also made shirts and vests for their men and boys.

On Thursday evening the first on the program was the local Talent Show and the attendance was good.  The Logan sisters won the first prize of $5.00 with their singing; Melissa and Melinda Melhue second prize of $3.00 with a song; and Kathleen and Cheryl Carlgren won third prize of $2.00.

At nine o'clock on Friday morning the Norway Grade School band led the parade followed by a pet parade, bicycle parade, Indians, cowboys, cowgirls, horses, mules, a pig, and a goat.  Also children in long pioneer dresses and boys in early day costumes.

Einor Shou rode a 27 year old horse, Lady.  Also there was a little boy and his sisters, Celene and Carmen Shou.  Bat Masterson and his brother, alias Jim and don Norris, appeared and chewed candy cigars along the parade route.  The parade route was lined with bales of hay on which were placed planks to allow spectators comfortable seats.  There were 23 floats, some of which were: "Stensaas Homesteaders", Norway in 1869; EUB Sunday School "Little Jewels"; Gay Stitchers Sewing Club; EUB WSWS "Give Stamps for Milk"; Oak Creek Community; Mr. and Mrs. Carlgren's "Courtship Buggy"; Covered Wagon and "Sod Buster Plow"; Belleville Centennial Committee; "Spring Wagon filled with Pioneers"; EUB Church 1913-1961; Our Saviour's Lutheran Church 1872-1961; Norway Merchants Pioneer Store; "California or Bust"; Chapel Club; Highland Baptist Church - "3/4 Century of Christian Teaching"; EUB Youth Fellowship; Cardinal Club 1929-1961.  Sanborn's Lumber Company, featuring a gown worn at Lincoln's Inaugural Ball.  The gown was worn by Mrs. Art Jacobson in the parade.  The Womens' Basketball Team; Norway Vikings 4-H Club; "Leaping Lena" the tractor that bucks and roars; Two Norway Pee Wee Ball Teams; A band; K-18 Basketball Teams "Play Ball-Prevent Delinquency".

Mr. E.A. Carlgren was a Cloud County native son, who married the former Inga Tiler of Norway.  In the parade the couple rode on a little black buggy pulled by a black pony.  In the afternoon the Pe Wee Ball team played the Scandia team.  In the evening, "The Greatest Medicine Show on Earth" was presented.  The show was directed and partly written by Mrs. La Verne Melhus, the former Jan Dutton and all the actors and actresses were Norway residents.  Eight Norway men presented the "Can Can" Dance in costume.  Between 1500 and 2,000 came for the show--main street in Norway was crowded!  The parade was repeated on Saturday morning--added was the Cuba Band in the parade, and they gave a concert.  Also added that day was a screened truck containing a ten-day-old donkey which was very cute and lively.  It was displayed and owned by "Tuck" Gettys.  Five pioneer women whose combined age equaled 412 years rode in an open car with Bud Dutton as driver.

There was a horse shoe pitching contest after the parade and in the afternoon the horse show was held on the Dutton place just south of town.  There were 15 events for children and adults.  This was very good and well received.  A large crowd attended.  The horse show was in charge of John Graham; Glenn Stensaas; Darrel Zohn and Bud Dutton.  Many of the local people had a basket supper at the school building on Saturday evening.  A concession stand in the Town Hall served plenty of food and cold drinks during both days.  On Saturday evening a large crowd danced in the street until a late hour.

Many articles used in early days in this Township were on display in the Centennial Hall, and 549 persons registered.

Winners in the Norway Centennial Contest were: Myron Reed's elevator--Darrel combs and Denny Burt tied and Mrs. Milton Stensaas.  Mo. Pacific Depot--Joe F. Skoony, Cuba; Phyllis Aspegren, Scandia; and Madge Dickerhoof, Norway.  Co-op Garage--Katharene Young, Wichita; and P.L. Hugos.  Dickerhoof Grocery--Janet Fraser and Nancy Carlgren tied.  Post Office--Mrs. George Ames and Kenneth Bray.  Loren's Electric--Kenneth L. Carlson, Doris Herrman.  Hammer Seed Store--Mrs Myron Kellog, Mrs. Berneice Burt tied.  Brays Service--Connie Blake.  Ellen's Sales--Mrs. Pauline Mercer, Albion, Mich.

The Oak Creek Community won first place among the floats.  Shown on the big, two trailer were--Robert Jensen, driver; Mr. and Mrs. Lundberg; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Kuhn; Mrs. Wayne Sutton; Carl Jorgensen and Mrs. Earl Hultquist rode on the first trailer, and Tony Kuhn, Wayne Sutton, Mr. and Mrs. George Jensen; Emma Jorgensen; Tony Hanson; Mr and Mrs. Homer Christensen and Mr. and Mrs. Myron Kellogg on the second.  The Merchants Pioneer Store won second place and the Vikings 4-H Club won third place.

The Centennial President and Chairman was Belva Brewer; Secretary-Treasurer was Ida Hammer; Madge Dickerhoof was elected Historian.  All committees were appointed by the President.