THE LIFE OF THE VENNELAG LODGE VIKING SHIP
Have you ever wondered how the Viking ship came into being or how it came to be part of the Vennelag Lodge? Let’s take a little trip back in time to reveal the origins of our fire-breathing dragon boat.
Back in 1967, seven (7) Argyle businessmen decided to tear down a 3-story hotel on Main St. and build a restaurant that came to be known as the Norsemen Supper Club. These seven men were: Dr. Richard Hunter, Paul Phillipson, Bill Rossing, Phil Steiner, Clayton Watkins, Kermit Watkins, and Bob Wenger. This establishment became a very popular eating venue by many people in the neighboring towns and beyond. In 1971, a picture of a Norwegian Viking boat was painted and hung in the Norsemen entryway. This became the next inspiration of the seven men…to build a Viking boat themselves! A boat that people could ride in, and a band could play in. The first order of business was to procure a vehicle. It just so happened that Paul Phillipson’s uncle, owner of Phillipson’s garage, had just taken in a mobile home as a trade in. There were no formal plans to follow, so as Phil Steiner said, they “winged” it. The mobile home part was removed, and the frame was in good shape. Kermit Watkins was a carpenter by trade so under his guidance and the painting as a reference, the ship took shape and did float in many parades.
Bobby Wenger had a band that played in the boat while it paraded through the streets of many towns. Phil Steiner had a fun story about the boat. The mast stands very tall in the middle of the ship. They were in a parade in Argyle one day and the next day, they were in the Syttende Mai Parade in Stoughton. Phil heard someone from the crowd yell, “Hey, there’s the float that took down our TV antenna yesterday.”
The ship was stored in the Argyle Lumber Yard for years.
In May of 1980, the Norsemen Supper Club was sold to Lee Zurfluh. He wanted the supper club but not the boat. The Vennelag Lodge heard about this boat. For a $100.00 donation, in 1981 or 1982, the boat became the property of the Mt. Horeb Vennelag Lodge and has been sailing in parades since then.
The ship has been lovingly cleaned, painted, and improved upon. Not only has the dragon head been made to lie within the float for easier travel, in 2019 it was outfitted to breathe smoke, which is a BIG hit with children. Norsk shields have been added to the sides as have Norwegian flags. Ease of getting into and out of the ship has been much improved. The award winning Vennelag Lodge Viking ship continues to sail in many towns parades each year bringing many smiles and applause from parade goers. The float returned to Argyle in July of 2019 to participate in Argyle's 175th anniversary parade. The Viking boat also received the best community/non-profit award at Middleton's Good Neighbor Fest Parade in 2019 and again in 2022.
50 years of Vennelag history in a nutshell
We are going to take a quick look at some of our memories covering the 50 years of Vennelag Lodge 5-513. The key word is memories. The dictionary definition (and yes, most of us remember what a dictionary is) of MEMORIES is “something remembered from the past; a recollection.” As we stroll down the Lodge memory lane, there will be things remembered and things we recollect. Let the memories begin:
The Vennelag story begins with a large group of Norwegians living in the Mt. Horeb area who gathered and decided to start the Vennelag Lodge in 1971 and waited for the charter to be instituted in 1972.
The first meetings of the lodge were held in the Gonstad building, and then moved on to various Mt. Horeb banks that had meeting rooms. Hilda Oimoen remembers that many members got together at the homes of other members or met in Grundahl park for picnics. Many fast friendships were formed and continue still.
There were Vennelag charter members living in Blanchardville. When their Lodge dissolved, Vennelag held meetings in Blanchardville in the months of March and October. At these meetings, everyone wore their sweaters, so the meetings became known as “Sweater Nights.”
The Norseman supper club in Argyle was selling a Viking ship. Since there were no buyers, it was donated to the Vennelag Lodge in 1983. A donation of $100.00 was given to the Norseman. The S.S. Vennelag ship has been in many parades over the past decades. Riding in the float provided a good excuse for the group of boat riders to go out for lunch after each parade.
The Kaffe Stue was started on the Village Green in downtown Mt. Horeb where currently the phone company stands. It then moved to the lower level of the Community Center and spread out onto the grass under the trees. The SS Vennelag ship became the stage for the musical performers who entertained the many who stood in line under the tent for the tasty Nordic foods. The tent was used for many years.
Syttende Mai celebrations were BIG, as they are all over Norway. The Lodge did its’ part in celebrating by holding dances at Club 18 and later at the Barneveld Legion Hall. To honor a symbolic Norwegian tradition, the Lodge bought and raffled a birch tree clump. The lucky winner, with the help of Lodge members, would plant this tree at their homes. The memory of some of our current Lodge members say that the tree was christened by walking around it and/or spitting on it. Which do you remember doing?
However…There was one more thought on this. Some of our members “recollect” another form of christening of the tree clump but this particular christening only took place at Melba Huseth’s!! HMMMMM! Too much aquavit???
And with that thought in mind there was also a ”recollection” that Melba Huseth, Audrey Casey and Doris Hayes were the “hot babes” of the Lodge! It was said that they were always READY TO GO! Again HHHMMMM!
Do you remember the traveling euchre tournaments between Idun, Mandt, Nordland, and Vennelag Lodges? Maybe you played in one of these tournaments, traveling around to the four lodges and vying for the coveted traveling trophy.
Our Lodge was lucky to have the Trekspiel Club, a Norwegian accordion group, come over from Norway. I (Chuck) remember one of the members walking down Main Street with a case of beer on his shoulder. Their visit in Mt. Horeb proved to be a VERY good time for them!
Did you know that we had a sister city relationship with Sogndal, Norway? The elementary school kids in Norway partnered with elementary students here. One of their teachers came over for a for a short time and Karen and John Rannum’s daughter Lori went to Norway for a visit.
Høst Frokost was started by Janice Seivers and Audrey Casey in hopes of raising money for the Lodge. They used the format of the Idun Lodge event, but of course, made it much better. Many of you have helped carry on this wonderful Norwegian fall breakfast tradition and we thank you for that.
Back in the early 1980’s, some of you may remember heading out to watch the Song of Norway, the Musical Story of Edvard Grieg. The bunads, singing, and storytelling made this a spectacular event to attend.
Vennelag, Idun, Mandt and Nordland Lodges organized two, YES, TWO, international conventions in Madison. The first one was held in 1982 at the Sheraton Hotel. We have a tile on the table from this convention. Under the guidance of co-chair George Sievers, the second was held in 2002 at the Marriot Hotel. I’m sure some of you were among the 200 delegates to attend this convention. Do you remember or still have the hand rosemaled coffee voting paddles each delegate received?
Well, hopefully this has helped some of you remember the fun you’ve had over 50 years, but don’t forget all that you have done to make the following contributions from the Lodge possible:
And the list goes on. Vennelag received the Large Organization Lodge of the Year award from International and Vennelag received the Non-profit of the Year award from the Mt. Horeb Chamber of Commerce. So “thanks for the memories” to each and every one of you. You have made Vennelag the active, vibrant and growing Lodge it is.
We are going to take a quick look at some of our memories covering the 50 years of Vennelag Lodge 5-513. The key word is memories. The dictionary definition (and yes, most of us remember what a dictionary is) of MEMORIES is “something remembered from the past; a recollection.” As we stroll down the Lodge memory lane, there will be things remembered and things we recollect. Let the memories begin:
The Vennelag story begins with a large group of Norwegians living in the Mt. Horeb area who gathered and decided to start the Vennelag Lodge in 1971 and waited for the charter to be instituted in 1972.
The first meetings of the lodge were held in the Gonstad building, and then moved on to various Mt. Horeb banks that had meeting rooms. Hilda Oimoen remembers that many members got together at the homes of other members or met in Grundahl park for picnics. Many fast friendships were formed and continue still.
There were Vennelag charter members living in Blanchardville. When their Lodge dissolved, Vennelag held meetings in Blanchardville in the months of March and October. At these meetings, everyone wore their sweaters, so the meetings became known as “Sweater Nights.”
The Norseman supper club in Argyle was selling a Viking ship. Since there were no buyers, it was donated to the Vennelag Lodge in 1983. A donation of $100.00 was given to the Norseman. The S.S. Vennelag ship has been in many parades over the past decades. Riding in the float provided a good excuse for the group of boat riders to go out for lunch after each parade.
The Kaffe Stue was started on the Village Green in downtown Mt. Horeb where currently the phone company stands. It then moved to the lower level of the Community Center and spread out onto the grass under the trees. The SS Vennelag ship became the stage for the musical performers who entertained the many who stood in line under the tent for the tasty Nordic foods. The tent was used for many years.
Syttende Mai celebrations were BIG, as they are all over Norway. The Lodge did its’ part in celebrating by holding dances at Club 18 and later at the Barneveld Legion Hall. To honor a symbolic Norwegian tradition, the Lodge bought and raffled a birch tree clump. The lucky winner, with the help of Lodge members, would plant this tree at their homes. The memory of some of our current Lodge members say that the tree was christened by walking around it and/or spitting on it. Which do you remember doing?
However…There was one more thought on this. Some of our members “recollect” another form of christening of the tree clump but this particular christening only took place at Melba Huseth’s!! HMMMMM! Too much aquavit???
And with that thought in mind there was also a ”recollection” that Melba Huseth, Audrey Casey and Doris Hayes were the “hot babes” of the Lodge! It was said that they were always READY TO GO! Again HHHMMMM!
Do you remember the traveling euchre tournaments between Idun, Mandt, Nordland, and Vennelag Lodges? Maybe you played in one of these tournaments, traveling around to the four lodges and vying for the coveted traveling trophy.
Our Lodge was lucky to have the Trekspiel Club, a Norwegian accordion group, come over from Norway. I (Chuck) remember one of the members walking down Main Street with a case of beer on his shoulder. Their visit in Mt. Horeb proved to be a VERY good time for them!
Did you know that we had a sister city relationship with Sogndal, Norway? The elementary school kids in Norway partnered with elementary students here. One of their teachers came over for a for a short time and Karen and John Rannum’s daughter Lori went to Norway for a visit.
Høst Frokost was started by Janice Seivers and Audrey Casey in hopes of raising money for the Lodge. They used the format of the Idun Lodge event, but of course, made it much better. Many of you have helped carry on this wonderful Norwegian fall breakfast tradition and we thank you for that.
Back in the early 1980’s, some of you may remember heading out to watch the Song of Norway, the Musical Story of Edvard Grieg. The bunads, singing, and storytelling made this a spectacular event to attend.
Vennelag, Idun, Mandt and Nordland Lodges organized two, YES, TWO, international conventions in Madison. The first one was held in 1982 at the Sheraton Hotel. We have a tile on the table from this convention. Under the guidance of co-chair George Sievers, the second was held in 2002 at the Marriot Hotel. I’m sure some of you were among the 200 delegates to attend this convention. Do you remember or still have the hand rosemaled coffee voting paddles each delegate received?
Well, hopefully this has helped some of you remember the fun you’ve had over 50 years, but don’t forget all that you have done to make the following contributions from the Lodge possible:
- The Dragon heads at the Train Depot/bike shelter
- The Blue Mounds Nordic Ski club
- The Rosemaling on the Mt. Horeb water tower
- The Norwegian Flag and flag poles at Grundahl park, the Chamber building, and the old train depot
- Donating cookies to Barnebirke
- Donating items to the historical society
- Painting the community center and having it rewired
- Providing Scholarships for area high school students
And the list goes on. Vennelag received the Large Organization Lodge of the Year award from International and Vennelag received the Non-profit of the Year award from the Mt. Horeb Chamber of Commerce. So “thanks for the memories” to each and every one of you. You have made Vennelag the active, vibrant and growing Lodge it is.