Valhalla Hall And First Lutheran Church

In the Tacoma News Tribune, Sunday September 20^th, 1964, is a short article, “Tacoma Order of Valhalla in 80^th Year”  The Swedish Order of Valhalla, Tacoma’s oldest “home-grown” fraternal body, will celebrate its 80^th anniversary with a banquet and program Saturday night in its headquarters, Valhalla Temple at 1216 1/2 S. K St.

Confirmation Class - Boys
First Lutheran Church

According to the article, the actual founding date of the lodge was in December, the celebration changed to September to not conflict with the holidays.  The holidays of course were Christmas,  and closest to the Valhalla founding date was Saint Lucia Day.  The lodge was Swedish, as was First Swedish Lutheran Church, and in 1924, (ninety years ago), the lodge headquarters became the headquarters for First Lutheran Church.  The congregation moved to the Valhalla Hall following First Lutheran’s loss of their second building in Tacoma in a fire.  (Their first building had been on Tacoma Avenue.) Their services continued at Valhalla Hall until the present First Lutheran Church building was completed a few years later.

Confirmation Class - Girls
First Lutheran Church

My mother’s family was a part of Valhalla, a men’s organization.  I can show a picture of a confirmation class from before this happened.  It includes my mother’s oldest brother.  I believe the photo shows the pastor’s residence, which was across the street from the church building.