In November 1992, Helen Timoney placed a small advertisement in a local newspaper looking for fellow Scandinavians and about 20 people responded expressing interest in having a local Sons of Norway Lodge.
In January 1993, an afternoon cocktail party was held at the home of Helen and Dan Timoney, where a committee was formed and it was decided to call the group "Friends of Sons of Norway/Scandinavian Club" until the group became official. During March and April 1993, meetings were held at the Myrtle Beach Santee Cooper auditorium. In May 1993, we celebrated our first May 17 th with a picnic at Myrtle Beach State Park.
We advertised monthly through public service announcements and by July 1993, we were informed by 3 rd District President, Arline Clark, we were eligible to apply for our lodge charter.
In October 1993, a meeting was held at Bodos German Restaurant in Myrtle Beach, with 3 rd district President, Arline Clark and 3 rd District Counselor John Hylivak as our guests. It was announced that our lodge number would be 630 and that we would be included in Zone 6 of the 3 rd District.
A contest was held within the lodge for an official name. Members voted and agreed on the name Southern Star at our November 1993 meeting. From November thru March 1994, we met at the Chicora Real Estate Office meeting room, located at 76 th Ave. in Myrtle Beach. Each meeting brought new people interested in our lodge.
April 23, 1994, Southern Star Lodge #630 Sons of Norway was instituted in Myrtle Beach, Horry County, South Carolina with 45 charter members. An installation banquet was held at the Sea Mist Resort in Myrtle Beach. Nansen Lodge #410 in Staten Island, NY is our sponsoring lodge. Southern Star Lodge remains the only Sons of Norway lodge in South Carolina and until 2008 was the only lodge between Florida and Virginia.
Our charter President, Helen Timoney, led the lodge for four years before handing the gavel over to Herb Hagman, who faithfully served as lodge President for six years. At which time the lodge actually functioned without a President for just over a year and was led by the executive board of officers which consisted of Recording Sec. Bernie Heavey, Financial Sec. Alice Vivian, Treasurer Betty Heavey, and Cultural Director Karen McIlrath. Karen McIlrath was installed as President by Ralph Peterson at the October meeting in 2005 and is currently in her second term as President.
Southern Star is a small, but lively lodge that meets the second Sunday of the month from September thru May primarily at St Philip’s Lutheran Church in Myrtle Beach. We enjoy the annual traditional celebrations of May 17 th and Juletrefest, as well as smørbrød in January, marching in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in North Myrtle Beach, wine and cheese in September and summer travel presentations by members in October.
Over the years, we have enjoyed our heritage by forming small groups that have focused on hardanger embroidery, rosemaling, Norwegian language and genealogy. We follow every business meeting with some type of cultural program.
We are a very friendly lodge that is always open to new people and new ideas for sharing and enjoying our heritage.
Karen McIlrath