Breidablik Lodge was organized in October 1930 by Norwegian-born immigrants as a mutual assistance society and fraternal group, part of the larger Sons of Norway organization. Forty-one charter members, who initially met in Vasa Hall (Swedes!) in Kelso, held a contest for naming their lodge and Breidablik was chosen from Norse mythology.
Initial meetings were held in Norwegian but members adopted English in 1936. Early lodge activities included folk dancing, baking, rosemaling painting, and woodcarving classes. In 1960, members purchased the Kelso Moose Hall, built in 1930, where we still meet today. Our Charter can be found on the Hall's east wall, along with the hand-scribed names of original members.
So What Does "Breidablik" Actually Mean?! In norse mythology, "Breidablik" was the home of Baldr, who was a son of Odin and Frigg. Baldr was the God of light, joy, purity, and summer and was known to be so handsome that light emanated from his body; indeed, he was the fairest and wisest of the Norse Gods. Breidablik was said to be the finest dwelling in the Norse universe, a "shining place" that nothing impure could enter. Our Lodges's name has quite a pedigree, wouldn't you say?
Over 90 years after Breidablik was organized in 1930, ours is now one of 39 lodges in District 2 of the International Sons of Norway organization. District 2 includes lodges in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. District 2 is further divided into zones for administrative purposes, and we are part of Zone 1, composed of nine lodges in Oregon and Washington. Every two years District 2 officers and delegates convene to vote on by-laws, elect officers, review financial reports, and celebrate Norwegian culture....usually with copious amounts of Aquavit! In June 2022, the convention was held in in Portland and Breidablik sent Jeanne N. and Elmer K. as delegates (pictured). In May/June 2024 Spokane's Tordenskjold Lodge and Coeur d'Alene's Haarfager Lodge are co-hosting the District 2 convention and Breidablik will again be represented by Elmer K., along with Laura L. and Andria M.
Have you ever wondered about the wooden stave church perched high in the northeast corner of our Lodge? Or maybe the intricately-carved stabbur (storehouse) on the stage? When Spokane's Tordenskjold Lodge sold its building a few years ago it held a raffle for its Norwegian heritage items and Breidablik Lodge was the lucky winner of these two exquisite examples of traditional Norwegian architecture. Be sure to admire!!
The Flag in Our Lodge's Front Entrance
This flag is from the Norwegian Club in Brisbane, Australia and was donated to our lodge by Bonnie Sethre, who currently resides in Longview, after her husband Glenn's death several years ago. Glenn and Bonnie lived for a time in Australia.
The original owner of this flag, whose name we don't know, lived in Norway and when the country was invaded by the Nazis in 1940, he fled with his family, but returned to join the Resistance. He was captured and tortured by the Nazis, who crushed his hands in a printing press.
After the war, because of the damage to his hands, the brave Norwegian could no longer stand the cold and so moved with his family to Australia, where several other Norwegian families had also emigrated. Knowing that Glenn was Norwegian/Swedish, he gave the flag to Glenn to bring to America. Norwegians are very grateful to America for our help during the war. And we are grateful to have this historical flag in our Lodge.
by Jan P.
This flag is from the Norwegian Club in Brisbane, Australia and was donated to our lodge by Bonnie Sethre, who currently resides in Longview, after her husband Glenn's death several years ago. Glenn and Bonnie lived for a time in Australia.
The original owner of this flag, whose name we don't know, lived in Norway and when the country was invaded by the Nazis in 1940, he fled with his family, but returned to join the Resistance. He was captured and tortured by the Nazis, who crushed his hands in a printing press.
After the war, because of the damage to his hands, the brave Norwegian could no longer stand the cold and so moved with his family to Australia, where several other Norwegian families had also emigrated. Knowing that Glenn was Norwegian/Swedish, he gave the flag to Glenn to bring to America. Norwegians are very grateful to America for our help during the war. And we are grateful to have this historical flag in our Lodge.
by Jan P.