Dalesburg is the name of a farming community in central Clay County, South Dakota. The name Dalesburg (in Swedish: Dalsborg) is from Dalarna - the name of the province from where many of the first homesteaders came in central Sweden. Today the residents of the Dalesburg Community are served by the Vermillion, Beresford, Centerville and Burbank Post Offices. The community is located between Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Sioux City, Iowa.
Andrew Lyckholm's Dalesburg Store, early 1900's
Dalesburg, South Dakota, 1920's
Dalesburg Scandinavian Association is a community organization which works to promote an interest in Scandinavia and Scandinavian-America and is a special interest group at Dalesburg Lutheran Church. The Lucia Festival, Scandinavian Travelers Program, Pea Soup and Pancake Luncheon and other programs throughout the year make up the activities of the organization. The organization was founded in 1987 and has its Annual Meeting in November. Dalesburg Scandinavian Association is an affiliate of the Swedish Council of America and the American Swedish Institute.
Membership is open to anyone interested in Scandinavia and Scandinavian-America. Membership information may be obtained by writing:
Dalesburg Scandinavian Association
30595 University Road
Vermillion SD 57069-6507
Or by by filling out the below form (and sending it to the above address):
Click to view the DSA's Member/Renewal Form
The Swedish holiday of Midsummer (or Midsommar in Swedish) is of Viking origin, celebrated around the summer solstice and was brought to Dakota Territory by Swedish immigrants from Dalarna Province in 1868. Midsommar in Dalesburg celebrates summertime and the Scandinavian heritage.
The Dalesburg Midsummer Festival is an annual community homecoming event sponsored and held at Dalesburg Lutheran Church, rural Vermillion, SD on the Friday between June 19-25. The afternoon and evening programs feature the themes of Scandinavia, Scandinavian-America and Rural Life. A highlight of the Festival is the frequent performing individuals and groups from Sweden, Denmark and Norway. The smorgasbord supper is served by the Women of the ELCA at Dalesburg Lutheran. Food is also served by the Dalesburg Luther League throughout the day. A visitor is always valkommen!
The Midsummer weekend closes on Sunday morning with a community worship service sponsored by Dalesburg Lutheran, Dalesburg Baptist and Komstad Covenant Churches. The public is invited to attend.
The responsibility of planning the Festival rests with the Dalesburg Midsummer Festival Committee. For more information, contact:
Dalesburg Midsummer Festival
30595 University Road
Vermillion SD 57069-6507
The Friends of Midsummer is a community fundraising organization for the Dalesburg Midsummer Festival and is a special interest group at Dalesburg Lutheran Church. Membership donations from individuals and businesses help financially support the program activities of the Festival. Membership dues are $20 for individuals, $35 for couples and $50 for businesses and other organizations. The Annual Meeting is held in May, and membership is open to anyone wishing to support the Festival. For more information, write:
Friends of Midsummer
30595 University Road
Vermillion SD 57069-6507
Dancing around the Maypole, Dalesburg Midsommar Festival, Dalesburg Lutheran Church, 2005
Dalesburg Lutheran Church
And
Svardsjo Parish Church
In 1993, a sister congregation relationship was created between Dalesburg Lutheran and the State Church Congregation in Svardsjo Parish, Dalarna Province, Sweden. Many of the first Swedes to come to Dalesburg, came from Svardsjo, beginning in the later 1860's. The relationship fosters an opportunity to learn about contemporary congregational life in both congregations through exchanges of materials and visits, and offers an opportunity for family history research for individuals on both sides of the Atlantic who have ancestry from Svardsjo.
Hub City Monument Dedication June, 1995
The Dalesburg - Hub City Historical Society, Inc. is a South Dakota non-profit corporation formed in 1995 to promote and preserve the historical significance of the Dalesburg - Hub City Community in Clay County, South Dakota. The Society erected and owns the historical monuments in the Dalesburg and Hub City villages. The Society has a Board of Directors and its Annual Meeting is held after a potluck supper on the Saturday evening of the Midsummer weekend. Donations continue to be accepted for the maintenance of the monuments and future projects. For more information, write:
Dalesburg - Hub City Historical Society
30493 - 464th Avenue
Centerville SD 57014-6403
Co-Hub City Founder Pearl Inberg, Hub City Monument, 1995
Dalesburg Monument Inscription
Hub City Monument Inscription
Reprints of the book History of the Swedes Who Settled in Clay County, South Dakota and Their Biographies by August Peterson (1947) are available at the Gift Shop at the W.H. Over Museum on the USD Campus in Vermillion, SD and from Ron Johnson at 605-253-2575, or rjohnson@bmtc.net. The books are $25.00 per book + postage and handling, and sales tax if applicable. Mail orders may be sent to:
Dalesburg-Hub City Historical Society
30493-464th Avenue
Centerville, SD 57014-6403
Additional information about the history of the Dalesburg Community may be obtained from these sources:
Trotzig, Elmer G. "Early Swedish Settlements in the Dakota Territory" THE SWEDISH PIONEER HISTORICAL QUARTERLY, Vol. XXVIII, No. 2 April 1977.
Schell, Herbert S. CLAY COUNTY: CHAPTERS OUT OF THE PAST. 1985
Vermillion Area Chamber of Commerce.
Schell, Herbert. HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY (South Dakota). 1976. Clay County Historical Society
Ostergren, Robert C. "Prairie Bound: Migration Patterns to a Swedish Settlement on the Dakota Frontier" ETHNICITY ON THE GREAT PLAINS, University of Nebraska Press 1980, Frederick C. Luebke, editor.
Moses, Lloyd R. editor. CLAY COUNTY PLACE NAMES (South Dakota). 1976. Clay County Historical Society.
Anniversary Booklets of Dalesburg Lutheran Church, Dalesburg Baptist Church, Komstad Covenant Church and Brooklyn Evangelical Free Church.
GUIDE TO HISTORIC SITES IN CLAY COUNTY SOUTH DAKOTA. 1994. Clay County Historic Preservation Commission.
Centennial Books of Beresford and Centerville, South Dakota
Winquist, Alan H. SWEDISH-AMERICAN LANDMARKS. Swedish Council of America 1995.
Dalesburg School, late 1800's
Comments… Questions… Call or email Ron Johnson at 605-253-2575, or rjohnson@bmtc.net or contact the webmaster, Brendyn Richards, at brendyrichards@lycos.com
Click to view the DSA's Member/Renewal Form
