Fair provides memories

By Mike Kelley (Contact) | Clanton Advertiser

Published Saturday, October 3, 2009

Working on the newspaper story for Thorsby’s first Swedish Festival in 1988, I was surprised when I received a call from one of the town’s first residents, M.Z. Thorson.

Mr. Thorson had heard about Thorsby’s plan to celebrate its Swedish heritage and called offering his editorial support.

Mr. Thorson shared with our readers his personal account of how his father and a few others moved to what became Thorsby in 1895. The Thorson family moved from Thorsby in 1910, and M.Z. Thorson went on to make his fortune in the paint manufacturing business above the Mason-Dixon Line.

It is hard to believe 20 years have passed, but the Town of Thorsby will celebrate its 21st Swedish Festival on Oct. 17 at Richard Wood Park. Festival events include beauty pageants (Monday and Tuesday, October 5-6 at Thorsby High School), a parade, arts and crafts, car show, area singing groups and much—more all on Oct. 17.

Mark your calendars now. The Swedish Festival will be a good way to spend a fall day.

Turning to another event, Clanton’s Kiwanis Club deserves a pat on the back for another successful Chilton County Fair held this week here. There was a large crowd at the fair the night I went, and the entertainment was great.

Getting along in age, I rode only one of Kissel’s colorful rides, the merry-go-round. My less than two-year-old grandchild, Harper, and I picked out a horse, saddled up, and I watched her ride and smile.

In fact, I was having so much fun watching her that I didn’t notice we were the only two people on the merry-go-round. Being somewhat of a bashful person, I normally wouldn’t put myself in a position where others can watch me go round and round. But, considering I was riding with my grandchild, others didn’t matter. Her smiles can make me do foolish looking things and not worry about what others might think.

After walking over the fair a couple of times, Harper ended up in my arms—along with the stuffed animals she won, her coat she wouldn’t wear and my camera. I didn’t seem to have enough hands for a bag of cotton-candy or even a candy apple. But since there will come a time soon when Harper will not consider letting me carry her, the memory of having fun with her at her first county fair will be much more important to me than any old candy apple.

– You can reach Mike by e-mail at mike.kelley@clantonadvertiser.com. His column appears each Weekend.

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