Looking Back: Norbergs came to U.S. in 1882 and started oldest family business in S.D.
A pair of brothers from Sweden may not have started out to establish the oldest family-owned business in South Dakota, but that’s exactly what happened. It all began in 1882, when Sven Albert Norberg emigrated to America.
Over the previous three years, Norberg had worked as a painter in his hometown of Klappe, Sweden, and had come to realize that, in that area, opportunities in his profession were limited. He knew the United States was expanding west and that new houses would need to be built. A year after Sven arrived in America, he was joined by his brother, Peter.
On their way west, the brothers stopped in Sioux Falls to paint what they could. In 1884, work had become more difficult to find, so the brothers decided to head to California. As they made their way to the trains with the tools of their trade, a local contractor named Nelson caught them, telling them that he’d just landed a big job that could keep them busy all winter. They worked through the season and when spring arrived, Nelson fell ill.
The Norbergs bought his business shortly before he died. This sequence of events was the start of a business that has, so far, lasted 133 years.
Sven and Peter called themselves the Norberg Bros. to begin with, and opened shop in a rented room at the back of Dunning Drug on the northwest corner of Eighth and Phillips. They were experienced not only at painting, but paper hanging, and were always keen to obtain the latest designs for Sioux Falls customers. Wallpaper was very popular in homes of the day.
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In the early years, the business had several locations; In the early 1890s it was at 116 West 8th Street, on the north side of Eighth between Main and Phillips. By 1899, it was on the south side of Ninth between Main and Phillips at 115 West Ninth. From about 1922 to 1935, the store stood at 106 South Main. In 1938, that building was razed to make way for the new Fantle’s department store.
Norberg Brothers Company, as it was then called, made a move to 221 South Main, on the west side of Main between 10th and 11th. The business was growing so much that, in 1965, it needed to move to larger quarters at 228 South Main. The last move to date was to 326 East 14th about 20 years later. Another store was added in 2009 when the opportunity arose to buy ICI Paints at 1204 West 41st. Around two years later, this location was moved to 313 West 37th Street in order to provide better access for customers and a building the company could own.
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Ownership over the years shifted from family member to family member. Usually two at a time would share ownership. Sven Norberg died in 1920, and his son Paul took over where he left off. At about the same time, Peter’s son Milton came on board. Peter retired in 1947, leaving the shop in good hands. In 1946, Milton’s son, Milton Jr., who went by the name Gene, was in the mix. In 1955, Paul’s son Stanley joined up. Gene’s son, James, signed on in 1975, and Stuart, Stanley’s son, became part of the team in 1981. Norberg Paints is currently owned by Stuart and Dan Boyle. This line of progress makes the business the oldest family-owned organization in the state.
Paint is a necessity. Houses need to be painted from time to time, inside and out. Bookshelves, soapbox racers, sheds, swimming pools, kitchen cabinets and many other items could do with a new coat of paint from time to time. It’s one of those things that, even in lean times, can be afforded in order to spruce up a dwelling. Norberg Paints has remained in business for 133 years by treating customers fairly and providing a good product. Will the business continue to move forward with the next generation of Norbergs? Stay tuned to find out!