Nebraska Danish Ghost Towns // Part 3 // Kronborg, Nysted, Dannevirke

[@joshlindig5853]

I lived in that town until I was a senior in high school. I rode my bike in the parking lot of that church almost every day.

[@papabear562]

One resident in Dannevirke. Wow. I could totally get into that. I told my daughter that's what I'd like to find. A town just that size, being the only resident AS LONG AS a larger town was nearby of course. So cool.

[@annettemixon1264]

Being Danish living in Kansas this was great. We just been on a trip to Elk Horn, Iowa to visit Danish communities. The story is a relative of my grandmother immigrated to Harlan, Iowa. Also, in Denmark, most cemeteries are around the church. Thanks for this. 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Ahh thanks for that info! Obviously I didn’t know about the cemetery around the church thing but now it makes sense. Hopefully some Danish immigrants find this video too! Thanks a lot!

[@sueelliott3206]

Great tour of old Nebraska communities. Thanks so much for sharing these gems of the past.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! It was fun!

[@denisegrays5936]

I love it when the church doors are open. The last one I went to someone from south America had signed the guest book!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome! I usually check and am always excited when it’s open!

[@robertwynn5844]

Imagine if those old homes had been kept up how wonderful they would be. Great vid as always.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Very true! And thanks! This was fun to find the connection between the towns!

[@kristinthomas5384]

My dad pastored the Lutheran church in Nysted along with ghe Baptist church in Dannebrog for 4 yesrs in the late 1970s. The inside of the Nysted church gorgeous! The pulpit is one you step up into and was carved from one tree trunk. Around the outside were the 4 gospel writers. The details of the carving was incredible. You could even see fingernails and toenails. The buildings across the street had been a Danish school.

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

I've just come across this video. Think I subscribed after you posted it. I loved the beautiful churches in this video. Reminded me of the Dutch. Everything is immaculate.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Much appreciated and yes I agree - beautiful!

[@kaymerry369]

The church's were impressive. Area was beautiful. Drone clip really showed the beauty of the land. Great video.😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yes these were really beautiful places with interesting histories! Thank you! :)

[@michellefreiermuth6327]

Very cool towns. The church is beautiful.

[@williammatzek4660]

That is a large cemetery at the first church. The church you showed the inside of, was beautiful. It looks like it's ready for sunday's service!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Agreed!

[@ejdiii333]

the Kronburg St. John's Church building is still an active church. Kronburg was never a town, a few businesses over the years, but never very large. just a community of farmers , nearest actual town is Marquette to the west.

[@glorias8540]

This series of videos was great! The first thing we look for while exploring old towns is a church. The ones you showed were beautiful, and I've found that's usually the case. Thank you for sharing and safe travels!!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! Yes I agree about the churches - very beautiful and the center of the community!

[@DRay-or4tc]

Enjoyable vid, much appreciated.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! Beautiful area to explore!

[@MrDoodlebug68018]

Living in eastern Nebraska I've never heard of any of these small towns. Makes me wonder more about their history. Thanks for sharing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Nice! Glad to hear these small communities might get a little more on the radar!

[@mikehuhman3249]

Great job 👍 Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Keep up the great work you do!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I really appreciate that! I’ll keep trying to put together interesting videos!

[@theprestriedge4657]

I like how the churches are mostly in good condition even in the most deserted towns that you go to......It gives me hope......I was stationed in Fort Rilley Kansas in the early 1980'S....I have always thought the prairie states look so peaceful.....I have been enjoying your videos and just subbed.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much for the support! And I agree about the churches - a lot of these communities only have the church to keep them as a “community”.

[@theprestriedge4657]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy Yes Sir

[@alerobabes01]

@@theprestriedge4657 my Dad was stationed at fort Riley in the 1970

[@theprestriedge4657]

@@alerobabes01 Nice …..I really liked it …..The small towns and the prairie were so peaceful.

[@travis303]

Love the Nicodemus shirt. I can't wait until I can get the chance to visit it

[@markwilliams5606]

Nothing better than traveling the Back roads. Seeing what Real America is like. Good people. Freedom 🤠🇺🇸🛣️🌄

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Absolutely! 💯

[@rosemariemichel7050]

Thank you for sharing your travels! I get to armchair travel with you.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Glad to have you along for the ride!

[@travis303]

I am not a religious man at all. I don't go to church, don't observe, nothing. But let me tell you I love old church buildings. They are so unique,

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Same 😊

[@larissaschuele3889]

My family and I attend the first church, Kronborg, and are still very involved in the community. We like to think that having the cemetery surrounding the church is that you are surrounded by the saints. I suggest sometime you come back again so you can see the inside of the church and the hall. We have many traditions that we still hold, such as dancing around the Christmas tree.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I would’ve loved to go inside, I’m sure it’s spectacular! Unfortunately I was there very early in the morning and no one was around.

[@rideinthedark]

I like the thought of being "surrounded by saints". Well said.

[@kathyspain7944]

Just bought a cookbook from a estate sale in Woodburn Oregon. It's called Kronborg Kapers 1975 cookbook f9rm the Kronborg Luthern Church. I bought it because my family is from a nearby town in Nebraska.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Nice 😎

[@roberteshaw9520]

Good drone work as usual.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you!

[@danjohnson7767]

Been by the Kronborg church many times. Thank you for taking us to the other towns also. I am Danish. Many Danish towns in the area. You should investigate the town of Minden more as it has a interesting Danish history that know one talks about.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for the comment! I’ve been to Minden and did the Pioneer Village video. I explored town for a bit and it was very nice!

[@danjohnson7767]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy You need to ask a local if Minden is a Danish or Swedish community.

[@stevemccoy8138]

I wondered if you would sign the register. Thanks for the tour. 🚜

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I always try to! And it’s always good karma to throw a dollar or two in the offering plate 😊

[@stevemccoy8138]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy That's a very nice Church, someone is doing a fabulous job keeping it looking so good.

[@ronfullerton3162]

Signing the register will sometimes bring some further correspondence and acquaintances. I have found it rewarding. I stopped often at the park one mile north and one mile west of Lebanon, Kansas. This park marks the center of the 48 states. I signed the register in the little chapel there. I was shocked when I had someone walk up to me several months later and asked how I enjoyed my visit. Lebanon still has a paper, and publishes the park's visitors from the register. Anyone traveling US highway 281, this is a lively little park for a quiet break.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That’s awesome! That would be a cool place to visit as well!

[@ronfullerton3162]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy As I said, it is very relaxing. And Lebanon, Kansas fits the bill as a small town. The people there are like all small town people, very friendly and warm. Just a mile north on highway 281 is a sign pointing out the center of the USA, and a mile west will have you at the park. I seldom bypass it, especially when on my motorcycle. It is the wonderful stop off for a break. And I have had several fun conversations with new acquaintances there also. I guess it is my hideout!

[@justnerdystuff]

So I always have cc on and when you said the town Nysted, the cc put it as Nice Dead. lol how appropriate for a ghost town name.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂😂

[@justnerdystuff]

At the very beginning of the video when you were in front of the Kronborg church in the cemetery, behind you there looked like either a fog or smoke moving by over the graves and then it cleared up. Actually it looked like a bunch of spirits moving by. And when you said if you were there at night, it would be very creepy - heck it was the daytime and it was creepy. Did you feel creeped out just being there?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I didn’t feel too creeped out but I definitely noticed how it looked! 😊

[@travis303]

Did you look at any of the names on the headstones in the cemetery? I enjoy doing that sometimes. I enjoy looking at those names of people who I have never heard of. I feel special sometimes knowing I now know they existed at one time even if nobody else does

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I did! Lots of Danish sounding names there. I usually like to check those out too 😊

[@travis303]

Did you say if that church in the last town is still used? It looks so clean and new that I couldn't imagine it abandoned

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It looks like it’s still used. Sometimes these churches are used but not weekly. Not sure about that one though.

[@travis303]

ooh, a theme today

[@judithhstevens126]

Did you see any signs of town that were not on map

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I showed everything that I found in these towns. Not quite sure I understand the question.

[@sereneexistence4989]

Why didn't you show the inside of the church??

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Which church? There were 3 in the video.

[@sereneexistence4989]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy The one that you said was open and beautiful inside

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@sereneexistence4989 Originally I had that in the video, and then someone from the community asked me not to show the inside, so I edited it out.

[@stixstat]

Sounded like turkeys in Nysted

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

🦃

[@arrobrewer2730]

What about Danabrog Nebraska

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Danabrog is not a ghost town so that’s why I didn’t include it in this video.

[@arrobrewer2730]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy have you been there?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@arrobrewer2730 I only drove through it when I filmed this video.

[@cathiecure2122]

You need to do some more research on the towns. Nysted, in particular, has an interesting history. The buildings you showed were dormitories for summer camps connected with the church.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for your comment. My idea for these videos are to give a short glimpse of the town and if others are interested they can do research as well. Most people who watch these videos aren’t from the area so going into too much detail will lose viewers. I always enjoy when locals add to the comments to talk about the town because people do read it!

[@craigbachtell1308]

You said you were taking us inside. But you didn’t

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Funny story. Originally this video showed the inside of the church and then after I posted the video someone from the church asked me to not show the inside. So I cut that part out.

[@craigbachtell1308]

Wow, that's strange, and to bad. Thanks for your work it is very appreciated and enjoyable. @@TravelwithaWiseguy

[@helenlassen6438]

I live 3 blocks west of Dannevirke and take care of that church. Wasn't very Happy to see that you filmed the inside of it and put it on social media. That guy in the picture is not the only person that lives in Dannevirke, you said. Now we have to lock the church because of being on social media. Dannevirke is not a ghost town.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

A few things ... After posting this video, I had a long conversation with a person who said they were the caretaker and I edited out the part of going inside the church - you must not have noticed that. He told me about an event that had happened previously. It's suprising that after that event took place (long before my visit), that the church was not locked. Many churches are unlocked for vistors to see, so if you don't want visitors you should definitely lock it and post signage. I gave him that advice as well. The donation I left that day should cover the expense of buying a lock. Many people love to explore and see historical places like Dannevirke. In fact, if you look through these comments you see almost all postive comments about the town and how beautiful it is. As for the ghost town categorization - like it or not (obviously you don't), Dannevirke definitely falls into that category. It's not a term I made up, it's a term used by historians for decades to describe communities like Dannevirke. It has nothing to do with "ghosts" and doesn't necessarily mean abandoned. There have been many people from the Danish community reach out and thank me for taking the time to visit and tell a little about their history. I'm glad I visited. And because of this video, now you are taking the smart steps to keep it from being broken into, because previous to this anyone could've stumbled into Dannevirke and gone in there to cause damage.

[@elizabethmarshall3251]

Helen - You're kidding right? You're complaining because you have to buy a lock for your church? You're upset because he did a very nice and beautiful video of your town? I have Danish relatives and showed them this video - they loved it! So I'm assuming you don't want them to ever visit and see this beautiful church? I could understand if this video promoted something negative like so many other videos, but Wiseguy is always positive and informational. You need to be thanking him instead of being upset.

[@allenantonio4389]

Cheese Danish

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂

[@bedstefarpetersen2843]

It's glaringly obvious that Dan does not do any research before he publishes this kind social media content. Kronborg was never an incorporated town which was by choice of the original Danish community who built the church. Instead, it's history is as an unincorporated village. And clearly, he did not meet or spend any time with the current Pastor, Pastor Ricardo who is from Brazil. And has embraced the Danish heritage and Danish traditions that were the foundation and underpinnings of this community. If Dan would have also spent some time visiting with the various individuals (Danes) who are still part of and remain connected to the 100+ years of history of this church, he would soon discover calling it a "Ghost Town" is a gross mischaracterization by some casual outside observer with no knowledge of or insight into what he is observing. And that saying it would be "creepy" at night sounds like something my 8-to-12 year-old grand children would say.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It’s glaringly obvious Bedstefar hasn’t done any research about me since my name isn’t Dan 😂😂 See how that works? 😉 I’m not suggesting you to watch any of my other videos, but if you did you’d see that my goal is to show the positive sides of these communities and tell a little bit about the history. It’s not a deep dive, it’s to peak the interest of the viewer and maybe they would want to visit your wonderful little community as well. The comments on this video and the private messages I’ve received have been overwhelming positive - even from those who live there (including Kronborg). The term “ghost town” is a broad term used by historians for decades and Kronborg does fall into that category, whether you like it or not (not my opinion). Once again anyone who watches my videos know they are never about “ghosts” but they’re mostly about history and architecture. You’re correct I didn’t talk to the pastor from Brazil. I didn’t realize that was a requirement to admire the church and cemetery (which is very unique). Since posting this video I’ve already been invited back to Kronborg to take a tour of the church, which I’d love to do someday. About the creepy comment, someone I chatted with afterwards from the area said the same thing. So I guess that’s an agree to disagree thing. In closing, this video was obviously made with good intentions (and I was only complimentary during it) and it appears you may be overly sensitive to outside observers (as you called me) trying to genuinely learn about Kronborg. I’m sure you understand for some people it may be intimidating to just walk up and talk to people they don’t know in a town of which they are not familiar. All in all, even though your comments are fairly rude I hold no ill will towards you or Kronborg. I’m very glad I visited Kronborg and made this video, it’s received 99% positive reception. I suggest you read all the positive comments made about this video here by both people who are Danish and from others who aren’t. I look forward to returning and learning more next time.

[@elizabethmarshall3251]

This is an insane critique of the Wiseguy. He does nothing but promote small towns positively. I would like to visit this town, but I definitely don't want to meet you!

[@bedstefarpetersen2843]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy Fair enough. And to be clear, my intentions were not to be discourteous so apologize for the reactive tone. However, my critique came from a couple of your review details which I believe are mischaracterizations. First of all, it was annoying to see Kronborg depicted as a “Ghost Town”. Which by the normal definition implies to an uniformed viewer a location that has been deserted and abandoned (i.e. “a deserted town with few or no remaining inhabitants”). Kronborg was never a town. St. John's address is Marquette, NE and it is clearly not deserted. At best it was/is a country church and village at the center of an active Danish Lutheran community of which my parents, grand-parents, and great-grandparents belonged and are buried. And of which it absolutely remains today albeit with fewer people. Secondarily, I’m still not certain I see the purpose behind your commentary about Kronborg being “creepy”. Not sure what value that added to your overview. At the same time, I do appreciate the fact you are doing these video reviews with good intentions to inform your audience about places they’ve not been. And, as I looked through and read all of the comments, the vast majority are from individuals not familiar with the church. But I would also suggest that if you wanted to learn and communicate more about Kronborg shedding a bit more light on the small community and what it represents to your viewership, you could have referenced the KZbin video about Kronborg’s Christmas Tree celebration which occurs every year on December 26. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXnRqmqcotB_qKc The historical video from the late 90s reflects a more complete picture and would have been easy to reference and add to your commentary. You of course could have also referenced St. John’s FB page which provides more detail on all the current activities. facebook.com/StJohnsLutheranChurchMarquetteNeKronborg Regardless, my intent was not to impugn your integrity, so I apologize again for posting my comments reactively without a bit more editing (the major problem with the social media world today). My goal was to provide some constructive feedback and critique, but obviously did not accomplish that objective successfully.

[@moke4421]

Beautiful church and cemetery, very interesting places and wondering who lived there.