Hanska celebrates Syttende Mai

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

HANSKA -- For a while, it looked like Mother Nature would ruin Hanska's Syttende Mai parade Sunday, but the indomitable Norwegian spirit, with perhaps the unspoken threat of a lutefisk counterattack, kept the parade rolling under dry skies right to the very end.

And what a parade it was! When the 70-some units had traversed the length of Broadway Street, Hanska's main street, several parade watchers marveled that "it was longer this year than I expected."

Of course, there were the half-dozen or so antique fire trucks from Hanska's own garage and those of neighboring towns following on the heals of the convertible carrying the Grand Marshal couple, Harry and Deanna Zea of Hanska.

Then, there was the Hanska Syttende Mai committee's float, featuring the town's Norwegian stabor -- a granary with a loft -- and a few units later, the improbable re-appearance of Elvis riding in a convertible. Then, when the parade had nearly run its course, here was Elvis again riding on a stack of mattresses which held the promise of giving you the best sleep ever.

In the midst of royalty from other communities, two Sons of Norway floats, a convertible carrying "Mari from Molde, Norway," at least 20 antique cars belonging to members of the Prairieland Antique Auto Club plied the parade route.

With the New Ulm "City of Festivals" float serving as a buffer, about a half dozen antique tractors, most of them wearing John Deere green, managed to stay just ahead of a giant irrigator called the "RoGator," which in turn was followed by a giant tow truck advertising "The Finest Hookers Around."

Meanwhile, a "Mr. America," dressed in a flag-like costume and walking on stilts like painters use to reach high places, ambled near the curb, stopping and, amazing, bending over to talk with youngsters either sitting or standing at the curb.

Then, not to be forgotten was the Minnesota "Over-60" Band whose members rode on a covered trailer carrying a sign, "Founded in Gaylord 1953," on its rear. The band arrived early to serenade early-arriving parade watchers down by the park.

That was only part of the day's entertainment, however. In the park, there was an arts and crafts market set up near the tent where the Elvis impersonator and a female gospel singing trio would perform.

In the corner of the park, stands the two-story Norwegian stabor that was built just a short distance from Hanska and moved to its current site as a gift to the city when it celebrated its centennial two years ago.

This time, the special attraction is the scale-model, wooden stave church that was displayed in its own custom-made cabinet on the stabor's lower level.

It, too, is a gift to the city from Ernie Ohland who lives on Lake Hanska. Ohland is said to have spent about 1,000 hours over three and a half years building the scale model.

This year's Syttende Mai festivities wound up Sunday night with the final performance of a variety show at the Hanska school.