Dear Reader:
Ever since learning (surprisingly) that I have 22% Scandinavian “blood” in my genes matching another 22% Irish, and 44% British…I have become more interested in pursuing this unknown part of my ancestry. Go Vikings go!
When Benedikte Christiansen, my Danish exchange teacher, visited me in Summerville we drove the back roads home, one day, from Orangeburg, South Carolina so we could let the Scandinavian teachers see our little communities (and I mean little) named for four Scandinavian countries.
They are: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. I assumed falsely that Scandinavian immigrants must have settled around there…Wrong! Now I know the story behind the story.
*Information taken from a series of 50 historical tidbits about Bamberg/Denmark
BAMBERG-DENMARK 50 THINGS/DAY 33: Railroad officials responsible for Scandinavian names of crossroads, municipalities
Those traveling north on U.S. 321 into Bamberg County may suddenly think they’ve magically arrived in Scandinavia judging from the town and crossroad signs along the way.
About four miles north of Denmark on U.S. 321, a sign announces that motorists are in Sweden, which is actually a crossroads. Also at that crossroads is a sign indicating that Finland is about four miles to the right at County Road 49 and S.C. 70. Finland is another Bamberg County crossroads.
Another misleading indication that travelers are in Scandinavia, of course, is the town limit sign for Norway further north on U.S. 321 in Orangeburg County.
So, what’s the reason for so many Scandinavian crossroads and community names in this section of South Carolina?
Surprisingly, the nationality of the early settlers in the area had nothing to do with how the names were chosen. The credit goes entirely to railroad officials who were given the task of naming the places where the trains stopped.
Denmark and Norway, both on U.S. 321, got their names from railroad barons back in the late 1800s when towns were springing up along the iron rails.
Sweden, an unincorporated hamlet, was probably given its name because of its proximity to Denmark. Finland is believed to have gotten its name for the same reason.
Once called Boiling Springs, Sweden became Sweden with the erection of a homemade sign on the highway. Later, the State Highway Department sanctioned the name of Sweden by putting up one of its official signs.
In the 1960s, the Scandinavian theme was completed when the highway department placed a Finland sign on County Road 49 about three miles east of Sweden, officially designating the crossroads.
*Neither Sweden nor Finland is on the official South Carolina highway map.
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*To show you just how small these crossroad communities are…this is what is located in Norway, South Carolina. Norway is made up of Gibson’s Garage, Family Dollar, and Shorty’s Horizon. (gas station)
So, obviously, no home country ancestry to comment on here in these four “Scandinavian” crossroads…just railroad tracks and country roads.
But wait a minute…our state might not have Danish ancestry in “Denmark” but another place in our country certainly does…and guess who discovered it? Cindy and her husband Dennis Ashley. Here is the story she sent. (Scandinavian blood runs in their family!)
A storybook stop in Kimballton, one of Iowa’s Danish Villages
February 13, 2018…Iowa Adventurer
Dennis and Cindy went to Elk Horn where the Danish Museum is located and had a “Dane good time.” But then they ran out of time before getting to Kimballton, the second Danish settlement and they now want to return. (I think we all would.) Look at these pictures and see what this small town has done to promote their Danish ancestry. Amazing!
When one enters the little town of Kimballton…you immediately sense something different is going on here…they even have two flags flying proud and tall….the American flag and the Danish flag.
These Danish-Americans even have a “Little Mermaid” Park and several statues from the stories of Hans Christian Andersen. They are serious about keeping their culture alive. *See statues of the Ugly Duckling and Thumbelina below
Here is the link to this article which has some spectacular photos of this quaint Danish little town right in the middle of Iowa…you will love the pictures. I might have to add this to my ‘bucket list”…go to Iowa to see “my people.”
Google: A storybook stop in Kimballton, one of Iowa’s Danish Villages
February 13, 2018
Just think about it…a stay in this little town would surely bring Danish pastries to the breakfast table each morning, along with other delightful desserts.
*(The only “bad” thing I can say about the Danes is “legos.” When you are making a sneak trip to the fridge on a midnight run bare-foot and step on your children or grandchildren’s legos you come up with creative four-letter words….OUCH!!!! or others! 🙂 Indescribable pain!)
So until tomorrow….Remember we are all citizens of the world…by now most of us are pretty much “zebras” of our planet…with a little of this and a little of that…and it is this diversity that makes us so “dane” unique and wonderful as God’s children.
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
*Last night there was a great turn-out for A Heart for Art at The Little Cottage. Susan, Donna and Anne’s artworks are unique, exquisite, and all magnificent in their own domains. It was a win-win for our little furry friends, also…since 10% of the earnings was going to Dorchester Paws. It was wonderful getting to meet Natalie Hutt, President of Dorchester Paws, at the reception.
…And here are our girls in center stage…so talented and so generous with their passion for art!
I hope many of you made it…I went early and stayed for about an hour talking (my forte) and then had to leave but there were delicious appetizers and drinks…a whole lot of fun!
I loved this painting by Anne…this beautiful creature of the ponds and lakes…What is that old metaphor….most of us are like ducks:
We are seemingly calm on the surface, but paddling furiously underneath to stay afloat.
If you haven’t made it to (The Little Cafe) yet, please do…wonderful selections of food and very reasonably priced. It is located at 106 Doty Avenue.
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
One could easily get confused as to where they are with all the road signs. “We aren’t in Kansas anymore Toto”. LOL
Love the duck painting.
Isn’t it beautiful…the pretty white duck drew me to it immediately….and yes the Scandinavian section of South Carolina is a pretty deserted stretch of road…don’t let your car break down for any reason along there.
As I read your blog and saw the name of a town in SC named Norway, my eyes lit up, my heart skipped several beats and a tear came to my eye. About 84 years ago on Oct. 15th, a young lady who was expecting a baby in late Dec. was making her last visit for a while with her parents in Norway,SC. Of course, babies don’t read calendars and often follow their own whims, so a small 2 and half pound baby boy made his debut into this world in that small farm community. They didn’t have a lot of hope for him, but they named him after his father and called him Joe. Needless to say, he did make it and later married a girl called Jo, so even though your blog today is about ancestry, it woke other feelings in me. But I guess when you get down to it, since he would now have 2 children, 5 grand children and 2 great grands, it is about ancestry in a way. I, too. would love to visit the Danish towns in Iowa. There is so much history to be found in small towns scattered across America.
What a beautiful story…with your permission…I want to re-post it tomorrow for all our Facebook blog followers who would miss it otherwise. Now my eyes are tearing up and this time it isn’t those darn drops I am having to put in them after the surgeries.