On Saturday May 7th, Helga Sandburg and Jack Larson met at the
Kensington during a public reception for Helga. She was GalesburgÕs guest for
the annual Sandburg Days Festival. Helga is Carl SandburgÕs youngest daughter.
She is also a well-known published author and poet in her own right.
Jack Larson is the familiar name to many. He currently has his own
daily morning ÒMusic with MemoriesÓ spot on radio station WAIK. Jack was on his
way to the beautifully-restored Orpheum Theater to MC a MotherÕs Day special
concert featuring more popular music than the Knox-Galesburg symphony would
usually play.
Beyond participating in an unusually busy weekend in Galesburg
full of opportunities for folks to come out and enjoy themselves, and both being
octogenarians, Jack and Helga shared something else in common. It is believed
that they are the remaining two direct descendants of GalesburgÕs ÒDirty
DozenÓ. The Dirty Dozen were a group of young men from Galesburg who named
themselves. One was Carl Sandburg. CarlÕs subsequent success and his
autobiography of growing up in Galesburg, Always The Young Strangers, forever documented
this ad hoc group of Galesburg youth.
Helga shared her time not only with Jack, but with other
well-wishers who came to meet her, or to meet her again. She autographed copies
of her book, and copies of her fatherÕs books that admirers brought with them.
She also signed copies of the Sandburg Days poster and copies of CDs that
contain Helga reading her poetry. Accompanying Helga was the producer of the
CD, Jordan Davis.
It was an intimate, informal opportunity to meet and talk with
Helga. She also graciously consented to photographs, even posing outside next
to a Harley Davidson and its proud owner, Burt McElroy.
After attending the public reception, Helga and a few friends attended the concert at the Orpheum adjacent to the Kensington.