Enumclaw's Danish Hall
Then and Now
The Danish community, originally concentrated in the Flensted area, has been active around Enumclaw for at least 130 years.  They founded Mutual of Enumclaw and played a major role in the local dairy industry and the development of downtown business.  We see in the activity within their hall that they are still going strong and preserving Danish heritage for our town.
Resources
About
Contact
The Danish Brotherhood first organized in Enumclaw in 1898, meeting in the home of Jens Jensen on Porter Street.  Two years later, the group acquired the Danish Hall.  Originally the general store in Birch, in 1900 the Brotherhood bought it for $125, dismantled it, and paid Anton Johansen $20 to move it the three miles by horse and wagon to Enumclaw.  By June 10th of that year, it was completely rebuilt and dedicated. 
The Danish Sisterhood organized in 1904, and the Brotherhood agreed to share the building with them.  They kept the upstairs, with its bar, for their meetings, and let the women meet downstairs.  The sparse facilities, however, displeased the Sisterhood, and they persuaded the Brotherhood to install a kitchen, bathrooms, front porch, and stage.  Now the Danish Hall was ready for dinners, parties, and other large events.
Dedication Day for the Danish Hall
The Enumclaw Danish Brotherhood disbanded in 1998, 100 years after being founded.  They sold the hall for $1 to the Danish Sisterhood, who have been operating it since.  But it has been a struggle.  It has cost $11,000 a year to maintain, not counting expenses for much- needed repairs or renovation.  In desperation, they considered selling.  One prospective buyer wanted to demolish it and put in a parking lot.  
The Danish Hall in the1960s or 70s
The Friends of the Danish Hall and Enumclaw Danish Sisterhood periodically sponsor aebleskiver brunches and holiday lunches, with delicious home-baked Danish treats also for sale.  They also hold annual frikadeller dinners and Viking feasts, complete with entertainment.
Members of the Danish Brotherhood, this time from throughout the Pacific Northwest, joined with the Sisterhood and formed Friends of the Danish Hall and began fundraising.  All the fundraising activities, however, were not enough to renovate a building well over a century old.  But then a benefactor appeared on the scene.  Lise Wilber arrived with a contractor, surveyed the needs, and provided a very generous gift to underwrite the project.
Now completed are a new foundation, concrete porch with wheelchair ramp and stairs, updated wiring and lights, columns, gutters, downspouts, restroom upgrades, and more.  The most recent changes are the classic blue exterior paint, landscaping, and a beautiful etched glass front door.
Lise Wilbur at the Renovation Dedication
At the dedication ceremony, volunteers served their old-country home-baked goodies while troubadour Flemming Behrends entertained the guests (in Danish).  Friends of the Danish Hall president, Frank Poulsen, introduced the board of directors and recognized all the volunteers who have kept the hall alive over the years.
The kind of party you can have in the Hall.
The hall is now in use nearly every day by various local groups, and you can rent it for your next get-together (Doreen did that for my 70th birthday).  They may even cater the food if you would rather party than cook.

Aebleskiver breakfast and
Danish baked-goods sale
Soup and sandwich lunch
and Danish bake sale
1900-2013