"The Other Swedes"
~ Honoring Him and His Works ~
~ Honoring Him and His Works ~
Dr. William Holwerda
A Dutchman -
1901-1964
~ Remembering him as "Svensk Hyllningsfest" founder
A Dutchman -
1901-1964
~ Remembering him as "Svensk Hyllningsfest" founder
People still recount that it took a Dutchman
to awaken
the Swedes
to the realization of their
great heritage of customs and traditions.*
to awaken
the Swedes
to the realization of their
great heritage of customs and traditions.*
Source: Elizabeth Jaderborg aka Selma Lind: "Lindsborg on Record," 1965
From his own words:
"The Festival effort was planned, developed, and built entirely upon a premise of solid local support, assistance and support of our neighbors. The response from all sources was in terms of generous participation. Its to such support we owe our success."
Doc Bill was able to film some of the festival of 1954 which shows the parade, the Swedish dancers dancing and, even, as an aside, a band of American Indians dancing, with glimpses of Bethany Church , Messiah Church, and Bethany College's Old Main.
"The Festival effort was planned, developed, and built entirely upon a premise of solid local support, assistance and support of our neighbors. The response from all sources was in terms of generous participation. Its to such support we owe our success."
Doc Bill was able to film some of the festival of 1954 which shows the parade, the Swedish dancers dancing and, even, as an aside, a band of American Indians dancing, with glimpses of Bethany Church , Messiah Church, and Bethany College's Old Main.
Published on April 20, 2011, by the late (2017) Chris Abercrombie
"A look at the 1954 Hyllningsfest. It took some doing to come up with this film but I finally located it at the Old Mill Museum, along with 3 other films from 1953, 1952, and the first Hyllnings Fest (as they called it then). All 4 films are in color, but there is no sound. At the end of this film notice the shots of Bethany and Messiah Churches and of campus, including Old Main!
Dr. Holwerda was the founder of Hyllningsfest, attended the births of hundreds of Lindsborg babies for over 30 years. The Svensk Hyllningsfest committee paid for the preservation of these films and their transfer to the digital medium."
-- Chris Abercrombie
Dr. Holwerda was the founder of Hyllningsfest, attended the births of hundreds of Lindsborg babies for over 30 years. The Svensk Hyllningsfest committee paid for the preservation of these films and their transfer to the digital medium."
-- Chris Abercrombie
Author, Bethany College Biology Professor Dr. Leon Lungstrom writes in his 1990 "History of Natural Science and Mathematics at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas* on page 219 writes:
"It was during the Coronado season in 1941 when numerous localities were staging Coronado festivals that the Lindsborg Rotary Club, of which Holwerda was a charter member, envisaged putting on a Coronado celebration on Coronado Heights, the historic hill northwest of Lindsborg. Holwerda suggested instead a fall festival featuring Swedish traditions and folklore. The idea caught fire and they promptly appointed him president and organizer of the festival, which continues to the present day as Svensk Hyllningsfest, honoring the pioneers."
A Swede named Erik P. Lenander suggested the name "Svensk Hyllnings Fest" which translated in English means "Swedish Honoring Festival." Later "Hyllnings Fest" became "Hyllningsfest."
Dr. Lungstom continues on page 221, 1st paragraph.
* People still recount that it took a Dutchman to awaken the Swedes to the realization of their great heritage of customs and traditions.*
"It was during the Coronado season in 1941 when numerous localities were staging Coronado festivals that the Lindsborg Rotary Club, of which Holwerda was a charter member, envisaged putting on a Coronado celebration on Coronado Heights, the historic hill northwest of Lindsborg. Holwerda suggested instead a fall festival featuring Swedish traditions and folklore. The idea caught fire and they promptly appointed him president and organizer of the festival, which continues to the present day as Svensk Hyllningsfest, honoring the pioneers."
A Swede named Erik P. Lenander suggested the name "Svensk Hyllnings Fest" which translated in English means "Swedish Honoring Festival." Later "Hyllnings Fest" became "Hyllningsfest."
Dr. Lungstom continues on page 221, 1st paragraph.
* People still recount that it took a Dutchman to awaken the Swedes to the realization of their great heritage of customs and traditions.*
* NOTE: Thirteen pages, 213-226, are devoted to the medical physician and Dutchman Dr. William Holwerda that are found in Dr. Leon Lungstrom's book, 1990 book, "History of Natural Science and Mathematics at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas." These two gentlemen were colleagues and friends at Bethany College. On January 31, 2016, permission was granted by Mrs. Leon (Linda) Lungstrom the use of his book in Swedes: TheWayTheyWere due to the importance of the information it contained for the College.
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
