Big Gust

Every small town has their thing. Siren has their Lilac Festival, Luck has Lucky days. Grantsburg has Big Gust days.

Big Gust is a true legend in Grantsburg. His statue can be seen along Pine Street and he’ll talk to you if you push the button.

I visited his grave site for the first time in my life today. I won’t say it was a super emotional thing, but it was pretty neat to be standing over that legend. His grave is marked by a simple stone, nothing above the ground, nothing gaudy or eye catching; just a head stone that simply read:

Anders Anderson

1872-1926

“Big Gust”.

It was an interesting moment as I turned my head to the left I caught a glimpse of another headstone. As I walked over to this headstone, which was situated about twenty feet away on the opposite side of the road; I couldn’t help but think of the poetry of the situation. I was soon standing in front of the headstone of another legend of Grantsburg; it was that of Carlyle Sherstad.

Carlyle was another guy that could have a festival named after him someday. He already has a 5k race named after him, which, fittingly, is run on the Saturday of Big Gust Weekend, and the track is dedicated in his name at the High School.

Carlyle was born in 1921 and passed away in 1998. He was five years old when Big Gust died. It makes me wonder what Carlyle must have thought of Gustav Anderson (assuming Carlyle was around Grantsburg all his life). It also makes me wonder who the next legend of Grantsburg might be. Who is making a difference in the community like these two pillars have?