Sons of Norway Mission
Statement:
The mission of Sons of Norway is to
promote and to preserve the heritage and culture of Norway, to
celebrate our relationship with other Nordic Countries, and
provide quality insurance and financial products to our
members.
KRISTIANIA LODGE #1-47
District #1, Sub-district
#5
Rochester, Minnesota
Organized March 1905, Charter May 30,
1905
Mike Dyrdal of Nidaros Lodge #1 organized Kristiania Lodge
#47 in March 1905. On May 30, 1905 the Lodge was
formally chartered with Ole J. Hansen serving as its first
President. There were 42 chartered members.
Interest in the Lodge gradually waned to the point that the
Lodge ceased all activities in 1919.
On October 8, 1934 the Lodge was reactivated. John
Grue was the first president after the reorganization, and
there were 32 members. Area lodges attending this
meeting were fifteen drill team members and other guests from
Oslo #2(Minneapolis); Heimbygda #376 (Spring Grove) was
represented by 26 members, also there were guests from
Norumbega #217 and Valheim #108. They met at the AOUW
(American Order of Union Workers) Hall. Balance on hand
was $39.65. Hall rent was raised to $5.00 a meeting so
it changed to meetings in cabins. In the fall they came
back to the AOUW Hall. Meetings were conducted in
English. Members paid their dues by the month (35
cents). On September 27, 1969 the Lodge discussed
purchasing the Stones Corner School on Highway 52 (organized
January 9, 1856), which is now Kristiania #47 Sons of Norway
Lodge, to be used as a lodge hall, and the vote to purchase
this building was 44 yes and 0 no. Ragnar Brinck,
Leonard Teigen, and Ray Aune looked into the purchase.
The schoolhouse was purchased at a cost of $3,026.50.
The lodge had to corporate in order to get a loan. They
decided to take $1,026.00 out of savings and borrow the
balance. On October 8, 1969 the first meeting was held
in the new building. Balance in checking was
$65.24. It was announced that “Anyone who can’t help
with work on the building can feel free to make a money
donation.” Contributions to the Lodge for chairs was
$5.00 per member. $200 was received for chairs. On
October 25, 1969, 23 new members were initiated at the social
meeting.
At the meeting on November 22, 1969 it was reported that
Sons of Norway borrowed $2,600 and already paid off $1,600,
balance $1,000. Several members donated items to be
raffled plus donations from members. The mortgage was
paid off in 1971. The roof was replaced and the outside
of the building painted. It was decided to have a
newsletter,
Betty Christensen was the Editor and the postage was1 ½
cents.
On June 15, 1972, Lodge members voted 42 to 1 in favor of a
building program to add on to the Lodge. The cost for
the addition to the Lodge (schoolhouse) was $14,300. At
the first meeting $5,000 was raised as a start for the
financing. Borrowing from members, for five years at no
interest helped to raise money. Notes were issued one
for every $100. As money accumulated in the treasury,
notes were drawn from the hat, to be paid. Many members
donated their $100 when drawn. The full $14,300 was paid
back in less than five years. The first meeting in the
new addition was the Christmas Party on December 9,
1972. Dedication of the new building was May 19,
1974. The Lodge held a big celebration, and the mortgage
was burned on December 3, 1977.
Other dates and points of
interest:
Kristiania #47 had an active Junior Lodge from 1962 until
the early 1970’s with 19 charter members.
Kristiania held the 1966 Sons of Norway convention at the
Kahler Hotel.
On September 1971 classes in Norwegian needlework
began. Then in 1974 they named it “Snak Og Sy” (talk and
sew), and they still are active today, meeting in the
homes.
The first “Craft and Bake Sale” was held in 1975 with
crafts being strictly Norwegian. Today there are classes
for the ones who want to learn how to bake the Norwegian
goodies.
The Lodge has held raffles for which the proceeds go to the
Scholarship Fund. Summer of 1975 was the first time that
they sent young people to the Skogfjorden Summer Language Camp
in Bemidji. There has been a Hardanger spread and a
quilt made by the women of the Lodge. Lloyd Mitby
donated a Stabbur, Phillip Oden donated a carved trunk;
Gertrude Romme donated an afghan and a Dresden
plate.
Frances Christian of Minneapolis held several art exhibits
at the Lodge between 1975-1984. These exhibits were open
to the public and drew crowds. She gave a percentage of
her sales to the Lodge.
The Lodge also had card night, highway cleanup, and bell
ringers for the Salvation Army. There has been a fish
and game feed, lutefisk dinner, pancake supper, harvest feast
(corn and brat feed), Italian dinner. The proceeds from
these events go to the Scholarship Fund and Lodge
upkeep.
The Lodge has its own Library, with books both in Norwegian
and English
In 1994 new wiring was put in the Lodge and
inspected.
Kristiania Lodge celebrated its 90th Anniversary on May 13,
1995. This was held in the Holiday Inn South, DeLos
Olson was President. Those attending were Rev. Marvin
Berkeland, President 1st District, and other past district
officers.
