Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 17 comments | Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Vote to decide coat of arms
Published Friday, October 16, 2009
Visitors to Thorsby’s Swedish Fest on Saturday will have a rare opportunity to participate in an international endeavor — a vote to determine what could become Thorsby’s official coat of arms.
The Swedish Heraldry Association held a contest to design a coat of arms for Thorsby after an image of Mayor Dearl Hilyer’s business card found its way into a Swedish newspaper.
The business card contained an emblem of a peach with crossed American and Swedish flags, but apparently some Swedes thought Thorsby should have its own municipal coat of arms — something that fully represents a town’s heritage.
Tracia Bussey, chairman of the Swedish Fest Committee, explains:
“For our culture, we don’t understand. From a European perspective, every town or city is supposed to have its own coat of arms. It’s part of its identity.”
An official polling booth will be set up in Richard Wood Park during the Fest for visitors to choose one of four proposed designs.
All were designed by heraldists from Varmland, the home province of Torsby, the Swedish “sister” town of Thorsby, as some have called it.
The winning design will be presented to the Thorsby Town Council for approval. Bussey called it an “extension of goodwill,” especially due to the fact that a coat of arms is typically expensive.
“I think it could be a big step in the pursuit of establishing a sister city relationship with Torsby,” she said.
Attendees may vote at the booth of Per-Erik Persson, a member of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce who has made a special trip from Sweden just to be at the festival.
Bussey noted that voters do not have to be Thorsby residents to participate.
“Per-Erik says he’s never seen this happen before,” she said.
Nearly 80 vendors are scheduled to set up at the Fest. The festivities begin at 9 a.m. with the parade, followed by opening ceremonies in Richard Wood Park.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
Posted by rjjr (anonymous) on October 17, 2009 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"The winning design will be presented to the Thorsby Town Council for approval. Bussey called it an “extension of goodwill,” especially due to the fact that a coat of arms is typically expensive."
I certainly hope the town is not paying for this. There are many more important things to address besides the ball fields and a coat of arms, such as updating the raggedy equipment for the public works department, fire department, and police department, as well as paying these people a better wage.
And that's just the short list of things that need to be done first.
Posted by KatherineReece (anonymous) on October 17, 2009 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We just came from there, I didn't see the booth there but we got sidetracked by a friend who showed up with a new puppy. I did get to buy a lot of "stuff" for my granddaughter.
It would have been nice to see more Swedish things though. When I first moved down here in the mid-90's they had Swedish cookies and sausages etc.
Posted by traciabussey (anonymous) on October 17, 2009 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It would be nice to have more Swedish things at the Swedish Festival. There is room on the Swedish Fest Committee for interested individuals who would like to help. We would really like to have more people to join in and help make it a better festival for everyone! The next meeting will be the 2nd Mon. night of Nov. @ Helen Jenkins Chapel in Thorsby.
Thorsby, like many small towns, has many needs. I hope to see them all met.
Posted by jmtho27 (anonymous) on October 18, 2009 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My Grandfather would pick the first coat-of-arms.
John M Thorson- who grew up on "Thorsby" stories.
Posted by rjjr (anonymous) on October 18, 2009 at 10:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"They ain't got one" because we don't need one.
Rickey, do you honestly think that after this thing is voted on by the council, that the town is not going to end up paying to put it on city property? (i.e. Patrol cars, City hall sign, Flags, garbage truck, lawn mowers, etc)
Come on! This is a waste of time. Lets concentrate on more important and realistic things such as attracting businesses to fill all the vacant commercial property that lines Hwy 31.
I haven't seen much done on anything but the ball fields since last November. I hope the Mayor is listening.
Posted by IamJimIam (anonymous) on October 18, 2009 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think they all are ugly.
Posted by rjjr (anonymous) on October 19, 2009 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
KW, I'm in total agreement with with you. There are more important things to focus on.
The ball fields, for some reason, seem to be getting most of the focus. I don't agree with using city employees to maintain these fields. That's why we have a Parks and Rec board. Let them do the maintenance. I'd rather see our city employees maintaining the city.
Posted by snowlady (anonymous) on October 19, 2009 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is everybody always putting Thorsby down. its a great little town to live in and raise a family. There's not much crime and most everyone know everyone else. If you don't like it stay out. Stay in Clanton where all the big shots or those that think they are big shots are. We don't need you.
The mayor said he wasn't going to spend andy money on the coat of arms he want.
Posted by thuntj (anonymous) on October 19, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I personally like #3 (the T with the peaches) It was a pleasure meeting the gentleman from Sweden and a special thanks to Mrs. Bussey and her committee for putting together a great festival for the town, thanks for all the hard work.
jmtho27: I think you should pick the coat of arms since your family founded Thorsby. Thorsby is a wonderful place to live and work.
The coat of arms is a great honor and we are grateful since we are not having to pay for the design of it, and as far as putting it on everything that will come in time as money allows I'm sure.
Posted by travlr423 (anonymous) on October 19, 2009 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It might be a worth while idea, but i sure hope these are not the best designs they could come up with. And to tell you the truth I'm sick of seeing peaches on everything. Its pretty poor imagination in anyone that can only relate this county to peaches. There is much more history to this county and any city or township in this county than a peach or peach tree.
Posted by thirdforce (anonymous) on October 19, 2009 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Boy, what a slow news week. Is this all there is to comment on?
Posted by snowlady (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think KW needs to keep her nose out of Thorsbys business and from what I hear other peoples grandchildren
yes I live in thorsby and proud of and I lived in Clanton for a while everybody in clanton thinks they are better than everybody else they walk aroud with their nose stuck up in the air.
Posted by thuntj (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rickey,
Thorsby does have a flag. They have the flags that go down Highway 31 and also a big Swedish flag however, we cannot fly it unless we fly it on a seperate flag pole which we do not have.
If you look back on the news story of Thorsby makes Swedish newspaper article there is a picture of it on the front of the article.
From what I understand from the swedish committee Chilton Counties fame for peaches was started with the Swedish people in Thorsby so that's where the peach comes into it. #2 was the design the citizens picked.
Posted by traciabussey (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Correct. The peach growing in Chilton County was begun by the Scandinavian people that began Thorsby. That is why it is an important part of Thorsby's history. Thorsby is the birthplace of the Peach Growing Industry that now Chilton County is so well known for. In fact, the famous Peach Festival was also begun in Thorsby, and later transferred to Clanton. The Coat of Arms is a gift from the people of Sweden. A gift that would normally cost $15,000.00 to have designed for a town or city. It would be rude & unthankful to not accept such a kind gift.
Posted by rjjr (anonymous) on October 20, 2009 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"I find it quiet comical that rjjr is all concerned about the cost of putting the coat-of-arms on the flag ... a flag that doesn't exist!"
I mentioned a flag Rickey...but I also mentioned a couple of other things too. I find it quite comical that you failed to mention those other things because you know what I'm saying is true about the cost of applying the COA to those things.
Take care
Posted by snowlady (anonymous) on October 22, 2009 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is everybody so concerned about where Thorsby is going to put the COA when is's like Mrs. Bussy says it would be rude not to accept the gift. They Mayor has not said he was going to go out and put copies of it all over the place. In fact quiet the opposite, he said he was not going to spend any money on it. People just do not listen or pay attention. All the see and hear is what they want to. This is a good will gesture from the sister city of Thorsby. everbody needs to get over it and let it go.
Posted by Rooster (anonymous) on October 22, 2009 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It looks better than the giant peach and does honor Thorsby's Past
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)