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Lodge Highlights

Nellie Gerdrum Lodge members are enthusiastic women dedicated to preserving their Nordic heritage while enjoying friendship and fun.

Fulfilling a need in Whatcom County for Scandinavian cultural activities, the lodge hosts an annual fall Scandinavian Fair every November. The 2023 location will be at the Ferndale Events Center, 5715 Barrett Road, Ferndale.  Lively music and folk dancing entertain fair goers throughout the day. Visitors are invited to join in or tap their toes while browsing Scandinavian arts and crafts or enjoying Nordic delicacies from the cafe and bakery.

Members support & many sing in the
Bellingham Damekor, a women's
Nordic singing group.

To contact this group, Please email one of the followingl:

Steve Jensen - stmjensen@earthlink.net

Sylvia Hampson - rhampson@msn.com

 

 

Lodge members and guest enjoy the friendship of other fun-loving women with a common bond. In addition to monthly programs, the lodge has many field trips such as Ballard's Nordic Heritage Museum; Burnaby, BC's Scandinavian Cultural Center; Seattle's Tivoli/Viking Days; Minot, North Dakota Høstfest. They support the Bellingham Damekor with many lodge members singing in this group. The Damekor has toured Norway performing in many Norwegian cities. In addition, the lodge supports local charities benefiting women and children in need, as well as the Daughters of Norway college scholarship fund.

Programs have included:

• Rosemaling
• Norwegian Royalty
• 

  Lefse Workshops and selling it at
  the annual Scandinavian Fair

  Sing the Cows Home
• Nordic Fashion Shows
• Scandinavian Traditions
• Music & Dance Performances
• Cultural Events & Celebrations
• Food Demonstrations & Workshops
• Bunads (Norway's national costumes)
• I Remember Mama (sharing your past)
• Craft & Silver Jewelry Programs & Workshops
• Travel programs: Traveling Solo in Norway & Hiking Pilgrim's Road
• Presentations on Contemporary Life, Folklore, History & Genealogy
• Lace-Making, Hardanger, Wool to Yarn & Other Sewing Programs & Workshops

Celebrating Sisterhood!

Lodge's Name

Nellie was named Petronelle Rejersdatter when born in Elverum Parish, Sør-Østerdal district, Hedmark Fylke, Norway, in 1856. Nellie was 28 years old when she married Embret Embretsen Gerdrum on April 29, 1884 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1885. They moved to Chicago, Illinois, where their daughter Hilda Ethel was born. Embret moved his family first to Tacoma, Washington, then North by boat to the town of New Whatcom. In 1891 they settled their homestead of 130 acres located on Silver Lake in the Mt. Baker foothills of Whatcom County, Washington.

Their first home was a small cabin, which stood behind the present house. Embret began building their two-story home in 1892. This home is now a museum.