NORDEN LODGE AT A GLANCE

From its inception on July 14, 1937, Norden Lodge #407 has been an active and progressive force for its members and the community. As we celebrate our 80^th anniversary we can pause to see how the commitment of our original 82 charter members has helped Norden Lodge grow concerning our motto “FREEDOM, FRATERNITY and PROGRESS” We have continued to stay the course for these 80 years in the spirit of this motto.

When we first organized in 1937, we did not have our own Lodge Building and rented at various facilities around the Huntington area. In 1949 we purchased land and a building on West Hills Road in Huntington Station. Twenty-five years later we owned both and through the tireless efforts of our members we built a new home on the site (Norden Manor). Bad times for the economy took its toll, as has been the case for many of our fraternal lodges. We sold, with great sorrow, our beloved lodge building, returning to leasing meeting space in the Huntington area. Though the building had been lost our founding members would be proud to know the lodge carries on maintaining the goals and insight provided by their leadership to carry us forward and ever upward.

Few will recall the District Convention of 1938 when Norden presented the resolution to change the official meeting language from Norwegian to English. This resolution was supported and passed, magnifying our embracing of our new home here in America, extending our attempts to blend our cultures. One of the many firsts which included not only the first Lodge to speak English in the District but also pledging allegiance to this great country during our meetings was an added issue brought to the District.

Our accomplishments over this period of time include: helping to organize the Finish and Norwegian War Relief during World War II, thus helping to preserve the “old country in its time of need in our small way.

Over the years Norden has sponsored and taken an active interest in sports with many athletic teams and events. In the early days our Tug of War teams made a respectable showing. Later we included softball, track and soccer (which included two championship teams) as well as bowling. Our Lodge was the first ethnic group to answer the call of the Huntington Historical Society’s International Festival by participating in an event held every year in Hecksher Park. An event, that attracts people from all over Long Island and beyond. Allowing us to reach out to our community by demonstrating what the Norwegian culture has to offer. We participated in the three hundredth year celebration parade denoting the settlement of Huntington, with a float, and we were at Westbury Gardens in 1969 for a Historic 17^th of May celebration that drew thousands and was featured in the Newspapers and on TV that year.

Norden continues to reach out to the needs of our fraternal group and our community. We are proud to be able to contribute to deserving charities. We enjoy the company of all our fraternal lodges and support all activities helping to proliferate our culture through participation. We are proud that we are able to join forces with the other Zone Lodges to sponsor the Zone 1 Scholarship Fund. An idea conceived by one of our members, to benefit the children of all Zone members over these many years. We send greetings to our sister Lodge Norsemen #572 which we sponsored in 1978 and are happy that you are still enjoying the benefit of our fraternal order today in Oneonta, NY. In 1980 we hosted a dinner for the Norwegian Athletes who came to New York to participate in the Special Olympics that year. We remember our support and sponsored guides for both the District and International “Ski for Light” programs whenever possible. Today we continue to support our youth group and Norden continues to remember our past members and their wishes for presenting our culture for all to participate in, enjoying all the warmth, understanding and support a fraternal group can bestow. Most recently we have welcomed our brothers and sisters from Garborg Lodge to form an even greater Norden Lodge. We have renewed our efforts to reach out to people of all ethic backgrounds to share an interest in our Scandinavian background. We revel in the number of members who have taken advantage of our offer and add to the strength of our order. NORDEN ALWAYS WELCOMES ALL! - BRING A FRIEND!