JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) — There’s a small corner of Jackson County where the Danish influence lives on about a century after settlers first called it their home.
“It’s my happy place,” explained Else Martin.
Martin’s happy place is a “Forsamlingshus,” which translates to “gathering house” in English.
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“This is a rare thing in Mississippi to have a Scandinavian preserved piece of 5 acres, cemetery and building still here in 2026,” said Martin.
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“Granly” means “shelter of the evergreens” in Danish. The Granly community center was built in the 1930s. By the 80s, it was dilapidated and on the verge of being demolished. Martin made it her mission to restore and preserve it.
During the Great Depression, immigrants from Denmark and first-generation Americans in the upper Midwest were looking for a fresh start. An ad written in Danish led them to cleared timberland in Jackson County just north of Hurley.
“This father and daughter in Iowa thought this would make a great chance to find a better climate and perhaps a cheaper piece of property. They set it up as the Granly Investment Corporation and started selling advertising in the Danish newspapers.”
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About 25 Danish families answered the call, farming the land and building a community. Among them were Martin’s parents. Her family, the Nygaards, put down roots here. 21 members of the original families went to serve in World War II. Now, the property survives through a perpetual care fund carried on by descendants of the founding families.
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This week, Else turns 90. With her birthday, a life full of memories floods back into the place where her loved ones worshipped, learned and celebrated.
“90 years of feeling like this is part of my home and part of me... What I always see is the joy, and I think that’s what’s so valuable is that joy that I see in all those people.”
The joy continues every year around Christmas. The children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Danish settlers are invited back for a holiday celebration as part of a tradition that dates back to the community’s beginnings.
“That cedar tree outside that window was the second Christmas tree that was dug up, used for Christmas service and then planted.”
Now, many more of those old Christmas trees line the property, serving as a sign of perseverance and a living legacy for the Danish of South Mississippi.
“This is the ultimate thing that was left by these Danish parents — that was this idea that if you want it, you can do it. You just work to do it. That’s the Danish ingenuity, I think.”
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The University of South Mississippi is working to archive the community’s records, preserving the history for future generations.
Those wanting to see the Granly Danish property for themselves can stop by an open house on Sunday, August 16, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 5611 Mulberry Road.
For more information, visit the Granly Danish Historic Foundation’s Facebook page.
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