Lögberg-Heimskringla - 12.06.1987, Blaðsíða 4

4-ALDARAFMÆLISÁR, FÖSTUDAGUR 12. JÚNÍ 1987
Ritstj órnargrein_________
Formannsskipti á blaðinu
í síðasta mánuði var haldinn
stjórnarfundur Lögbergs-
Heimskringlu og þar sagði Einar
Arnason af sér sem formaður
Lögbergs-Heimskringlu. Einar hefur
annast það starf um nokkurt skeið en
eins og lesendur blaðsins vita, mun
hann taka við ritstjórnarstöðunni í
ágúst á þessu ári. Það er óhætt að
segja að fáir þekkja betur til reksturs
blaðsins en Einar en hann hefur setið
í stjórnarnefnd árum saman og
kynnst með eigin reynslu öllum
hliðum útgáfu blaðsins. Hann hefur
unnið gifturíkt starf sem formaður og
verður honum seint full þakkað hans
framlag.
Neil Bardal leysir Einar af hólmi og
þar er síður en svo komið að tómum
kofanum því Neil er ekki aðeins
einstaklega driftugur maður og
águgasamur heldur þekkir hann vel
til reksturs blaðsins. Þá má ekki
gleyma því að fáir hafa komið eins
mikið við sögu í málefnum Vestur
íslendinga á síðustu árum en Neil.
Hann var formaður Fróns í
Winnipeg, er varaforseti
Þjóðræknisfélags íslendinga í
Vesturheimi. Þá hefur hann unnið
ómetanlegt starf fyrir norræna húsið
hér í borg svo og Folklorama.
Það gefur auga leið að Lögberg-
Heimskringla er í góðum höndum og
þarf enginn að óttast framtíð
blaðsins meðan svo duglegt og
áhugasamt fólk eins og nú stjórnar
rekstri blaðsins halda því áfram.
Staða blaðsins er góð og hægt og
bítandi fjölgar áskrifendum þess en
þeir eru nú fleiri en nokkru sinni.
Engum einum manni verður þakkað
batnandi hagur blaðsins heldur hafa
margir lagt þar hönd á plóginn. Sú
eining og samvinna sem einkennir
stjórnarnefndina leiðir til jákvæðs
árangurs og sterkrar heildar.
Þeir tveir áðurnefndu menn, Einar
Arnason og Neil Bardal skipta nú um
sæti en áfram munu þeir vinna
saman af sama áhuga og dugnaði og
fyrr. Mörg verkefni bíða nýs
formanns en það merkasta er
aldarafmæli 'Kringlunnar' en upp á
það verður haldið á næsta ári. Má
búast við athyglisverðri afmælis-
veislu því Neil er einkar lagið að
skipuleggja slíkt. Sá er þessar línur
skrifar þakkar Einari ánægjulegt
samstarf og býður Neil velkominn til
starfa.
J.Þ.
The Thorvaldson Reunion
On the long August weekend of
this year the Thorvaldson clan will
observe the lOOth Anniversary of ar-
rival in Canada of Thorvaldur and
Thuridur Thorvaldson with their
family in Winnipeg on August 1,
1887. They were six all told — Thor-
valdur, 45; Thuridur, 50; Sveinn,
their eldest son, 15; Guðrun, 8; Thor-
valdur, 7; and T.horbergur, 4.
They left for Selkirk by rail, con-
tinued to Gimli by boat, and then
over the colonization road to their
homestead land near Arnes, arriving
August 4th. Quickly they set about to
prepare for the coming winter,
fashioning a hasty log shelter from
the materials at hand, namely the
trees in the woods which stood on
their newly-acquired land.
Like other Icelanders of this distant
pioneer era, they came and sought a
new life in the remote area of New
Iceland which provided land and
hope, not available in the country of
their birth. Although of middle age,
they braved the unknown future
with their children. Like the people
of Iceland where there was hay and
fish they knew life could be faced
without fear, and this they did with
the added bonus of trees in the
woods for shelter and fuel.
It was not long, only a month later,
when Sveinn walked the 13 miles to
Gimli and caught a boat for the nor-
thern fishing grounds. There, he
fulfilled his duties as an assistant
cook. He returned with the earnings
in his pocket to provide dire financial
assistance to his parents, sister and
brothers.
During these early years, Arnes
and Sveinn sought employment on
every occasion to acquire earnings
for the family. From the time he was
15 he never ceased to forge ahead
with energy throughout the years of
a fairly long life. At 17 came his op-
portunity to attend school and, with
his characteristic drive, he was soon
able to qualify and become a teacher.
After four years of teaching he turned
towards entrepreneurial enterprise
which he followed with success dur-
ing the rest of his life, best known as
a merchant and partner in the New
Iceland firm of Sigudson-
Thorvaldson Ltd.
His active public career as school
trustee, municipal councillor reeve
and member of the Manitoba Legis-
lature mark the public spirit he so
generously gave of himself to the
community at large.
Honoured by Iceland with the
Order of The Falcon awarded the
Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.)
and honourary recognition by
Western Icelanders, he earned the
honours he so richly deserved.
The unsung compassion of this
great man remain largely unrecord-
ed but nonetheless they were a part
Sveinn Thorvaldson, M.B.E.
1873-1949
of his life.
On one occasion, a mother of
young children faced a bare cup-
board with her husband at a remote
fishing camp on Lake Winnipeg. Pen-
niless, she was driven to seek credit,
only to be turned down. In tears she
walked slowly, grasping the hand of
her childhood daughter, when she
heard her name called. Turning, she
saw Sveinn running towards her.
Laying his hand on her shoulder, he
said, "Come back and take what you
need; I know you will pay us when
your husband comes home.” To her
dying day she worshipped Sveinn
Thorvaldson.
The writer's grandmother, through
lack of English, was compelled to
seek employment with Icelanders;
generally, this was domestic service
with some old Icelandic widower or
bachelor farmer.
At the age of 15, mother became
very concerned for grandmother,
who was keeping house on Hecla
Island opposite Grassy Narrows.
Arriving in Riverton, she went to
Sveinn Thorvaldson like most people
in the area. He agreed to lend her his
small sailboat, providing she had the
assistance of an experienced person.
The trip across the narrows was a
success, as mother came back with
grandmother including her spinning
wheel, personal belongings and two
sheep. The farmer had no means of
paying grandmother, so mother came
away with two sheep.
Sveinn lived during an era when
death frequently visited during what
we now consider early years. Unfor-
tunately, he became a widower with
children. Later, he married a widow
with children which led to a suc-
cessful and happy life. They, in turn,
had children.
It is said, ''One night when the
children were exceptionally argu-
mentative, Mrs. Thorvaldson com-
mented, I wonder what all the com-
motion is about?"
Sveinn replied, "My dear, it is your
children and my children arguing
with our children."
Sveinn brought up 19 children of
his own and four step-daughters. He
provided for them well and gave each
a fair opportunity to select their own
careers, often digging deep into his
pocket.
Sveinn's son, Solmundur, had a
high-profile career as a senator, politi-
cian and successful lawyer. His name
still adorns the office of a large and
well known legal firm in Winnipeg.
Both of Sveinn's brothers were
outstanding academics. It was while
attending Harvard University that
Thorvaldur was stricken with a burst
appendix and died on the operating
table. Thus, he suffered a premature
death in the midst of a brilliant
academic career.
Thorbergur followed his brother's
footsteps and attended Harvard, ob-
taining a Ph.D. degree. His research
led to establishing the atomic weight
of iron. His best known work was in
connection with the development of
sulphate-resistant cement, common-
ly known as Portland Cement.
Continued on Page 5
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