Helga Estby lodge members are enthusiastic about their Nordic heritage. They encourage likeminded women (ages 13 and over) to join them. Visit their website for additional information and lodge photos.
LODGE HIGHLIGHTS
Helga Estby Lodge #47 includes members with ancestry representing all five Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland). The variety and depth of their programs are unique. In 2008, the group grew Black Bearded wheat which they then used in making Scandinavian wheat-weaving ornaments for the holidays.
Rosemaled Victorian shoes that lodge rosemalers painted for hikers
The lodge also hosts an annual Helga Estby Walk, a 2.5 – 3.5 mile hike in honor of the walk made by the adventurous Norwegian American woman the lodge takes its name from. The hike helps make the history of Helga's journey come alive and prizes are given to all who finish! Interested hikers should contact the lodge for additional details. The next hike will be June 10, 2010.
Every May the lodge joins the local Sons of Norway (Grøndal Lodge) in a Syttende Mai (17th of May) event. In addition in the fall, the lodge hosts it's annual Helga Estby Lutefisk/Swedish Meatball Feed . This is well attended and enjoyed by all. Please join us at any of these events. Members are participants in the Mountain Home Fall Harvest Festival selling their delicious lefse and other beautifully crafted Nordic items! They fund raise for Mountain Home Historical Society.
Wonderful Scandinavian programs are presented by Helga Estby lodge. A few of the past programs include:
- Nordic Dancing
- Musical Entertainment
- Lefse & Bunad Workshops
- Cultural Events & Celebrations
- Field trips to Scandinavian events
- Viking Dress Making (the Hedeby style)
- Wood Carving Presentations & Workshops
- Wheat Weaving — from seed to finished product
- The Three Styles of Bunads (Continual Use, Designed & Reconstructed)
- Midsummer Celebration — Maypole Dancing & Flowered Head Coverings
- Craft workshops (including Hardanger Embroidery, Rosemaling, etc.)
Helga Estby Lodge members enjoy dancing around the Maypole with flower wreath hats they made!
MEETING DETAILS
- WHEN: Third Tuesday1 of month at 6:30 pm
- WHERE: Faith Lutheran Church School, 1190 North 6th East, Mountain Home, ID
LODGE'S NAME
Helga Estby Lodge was named after a Norwegian immigrant, whose walk across America in the late 1800's was unknown to almost all of her descendents because her journey caused hardship and embarrassment to her family at the time.
Much later, one of Helga Estby's grandchildren heard tidbits of the real story and of how Helga tried to save the family farm when her husband was unable to work it during an economic downturn. She is credited with walking from Washington State to New York City during the Victorian Era, accompanied only by her eldest daughter Clara. This amazing story was brought to light by her great-grandson who entered it in a writing contest. One of the judges told his wife, the writer Linda Lawrence Hunt, about this amazing feat and it inspired her to write Bold Spirit — Helga Estby's Forgotten Walk Across Victorian America. The book highlights the courage, fortitude, and desire that Norwegian immigrant women had to make this new land of America their home. The Viking spirit lives on in Helga Estby's story of exploration against the unknown.
- 1 Lodge does not hold meetings in July & August. Meeting place may vary so contact lodge for details.
