History of Lodges

Thirty-four men signed the charter to form "Løven Lodge No. 29", Sons of Norway in April of 1904. The name "Løven" (Lion) is derived from Norway's armorial insignia. Our lodge is the third oldest in the Fifth District. Within the Sons of Norway order, it is considered to be a good, solid and conservative lodge. In years past, it had the largest number of insurance members and total insurance in force
of any lodge in our district.

In 1912, the lodge undertook its first big venture. It sponsored the appearance of Captain Roald Amundson, the noted Norwegian explorer, for an illustrated lecture at Fournier's Academy on First Avenue. He had returned from a successful expedition to the Antarctic, where he and his party reached and discovered the South Pole on December 16, 1911. A guarantee of $500 was required for his appearance--by no means a small sum at that time.

In 1913, the First District Convention was held in Eau Claire. The First District, at the time, comprised all the lodges in the middle west. A highlight of that convention was a visit by Carl J. Hambro of Norway, who was Secretary of Nordmanns-Forbundet. He spoke to an overflow crowd at the Opera House on South Barstow Street. Mr. Hambro later became President of the Norwegian Parliament and Norway's
delegate to the United Nations.

April 27, 1921 marked the beginning of women joining the lodge. That evening three women became members. Now women outnumber the men in the membership count.

Fifth District Conventions were held in Eau Claire in 1926, 1944, 1976, and 1988. In 1938 the Supreme Lodge held its convention here with the honored guest again being Carl J. Hambro, then President of Norway's Parliament.

In October 1929, after many years of money raising activities, such as bazaars, dinners, etc, the Lodge purchased property facing the Chippewa River in Dells Park. It became an enjoyable gathering place for meetings and recreation. This property was sold in June of 1959.

The April 2, 1948 meeting marked the beginning of the use of English for the rituals and in conducting business meetings. On October 14, 1952, our sister lodge "Dovre" of the former fraternal benefit society Daughters of Norway, merged with our lodge.

Two members of Løven Lodge have served as Fifth District president: Ole Kinney and Sam Walker. Others who have served on the board are: Adolf Lofte, Waldemar Ager, John Owen, Eyvind Ager, Gerald Amundson, Glenn Haugen, Alfred Smemo, Mons Vihovde, and Beatrice Anderson. Dr. Henning Wiese, a former member, was appointed Chief Medical Examiner upon his relocation in Minneapolis. Members of Løven Lodge have been strong supporters of the Fifth District Heritage Camp, located at the Beaver Creek Reserve. A flagpole was erected there in 1989 in memory of Glenn Haugen, the bulk of the funds being raised at the 1988 District Convention.

Memory reminds us of all the wonderful brothers and sisters who through many years, though departed from our midst, have faithfully and untiringly served and worked for the progress of our lodge.

"My name, and my place, and my tomb, all forgotten,
The brief race of time well and patiently run,
So let me pass away, peacefully, silently,
Only remembered by what I have done."

.... Eyvind Ager

updated April 2009 

Two members of Løven Lodge have served as Fifth District President: Ole Kinney and Sam Walker. Others who have served on the board are: Adolf Lofte, Waldemar Ager, John Ovren, Eyvind Ager, Gerald Amundson, Glenn Haugen, Alfred Smemo, Mons Vihovde, Beatrice Anderson, Mavis Zimmerman, John Hanson and David Hermundson. Dr. Henning Wiese, a former member, was appointed Chief Medical Examiner upon his relocation in Minneapolis. Members of Løven Lodge have been strong supporters of the Fifth District Heritage Camp, located at the Beaver Creek Reserve. A flagpole was erected there in 1989 in memory of Glenn Haugen, the bulk of the funds being raised at the 1988 District Convention.

In 2004, Løven Lodge celebrated their 100th Anniversary. We are an active lodge of 200 members with 60 to 80 members attending monthly meetings. Every summer we enjoy picnics with our sister lodges, Trygvasson 220, Osseo, WI and Viking 625, Mondovi, WI.

Each year we participate in the International Fall Festival in downtown, Eau Claire, and the International Folk Fair at the local University of Wisconsin/stressing our Norwegian Heritage and Culture with a "Stab bur" float in the parades and booths selling Norwegian food and crafts as well as information on Sons of Norway membership benefits.
Thru the years, Løven Lodge has been privileged to host many tour groups, musicians, and folk dancers from Norway, resulting in life-long friendships.

Syttende Mai is celebrated with parades, banquets of authentic Norwegian foods with outstanding cultural programs and entertainment. Attendance is over 200 members and guests.

Members teach classes on the Norwegian language, chip carving, hardanger embroidery and Norwegian baking and cooking. Books by Norwegian and Norwegian-American authors are read and discussed by the Reading Group. Under the Adopt-A-School program, several schools and also "home-schooled" children at the . Chippewa Valley Museum have been told about our Norwegian Culture and learned folk-dancing, rosemaling and other crafts. "Heritage Day"for children is held every year in the local park with enthusiastic participation. Cancelled stamps are saved for Tubfrim while milk bottle caps, pop tabs, education coupons and Campbell labels are collected each month and given to area schools. Members also participate in bowling and golf outings and work at the Barnebirke in Hayward, WI.

Numerous charitable organizations in our community and the Sons of Norway Foundation are supported with time, talent and monetary donations. Scholarship are awarded to the Heritage Camp, Universities and Technical colleges.

Memory reminds us of all the wonderful brothers and sisters who through many years, though departed from our midst, have faithfully and untiringly served and worked for the progress of our lodge.

"My name, and my place, and my tomb, all forgotten, The brief race of time well and patiently run,
So let me pass away, peacefully, silently,
Only remembered by what I have done."
.....Eyvind Ager
(Eyvind Ager died August 11, 1998)