Lögberg-Heimskringla - 11.09.1992, Blaðsíða 5

Lögberg-Heimskringla - 11.09.1992, Blaðsíða 5
Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 11. september 1992 • 5 lceland on the West Coast The first schoolhouse, built In 1909. The school year of 1908-1909 showed enrollment of 83 pupils, 39 grammar grades and 44 primary grades. Of the total 47 were Icelanders. As the years passed, the Icelandic people became more involved with education at Point Roberts. By the spring of 1918 there were again four teachers at Point Roberts with salaries that ranged from $65.00 to $95.00 per month. B. A. Samuelson had become principal, Kolbeinn Simundson was the clerk and H. B. Hansen was the director. In 1932 school enrollment seemed to expand enough so that the possibili- ty of adding a tenth grade was dis- cussed. But there was no room! A Runa Thordarson story follows: The old school building needed repairs and painting so the School Board, John Solomon, Dora Culp and myself wrote to Senator Edwards to ask for W.P.A. funds for making repairs. A man was sent to examine the old building and in a short while a let- ter was received from Senator Edwards, Quote, “We cannot send W.P. A. funds on repairing old build- ings, but we would be glad to build you a new school.” It didn’t take the school Board long to decide to accept this offer. In 1937, the Works Progress Ad- ministration (WPA) came to the rescue and built a sturdy, new brick five-room school building. It is still standing. In the early years of Caucasian set- tlement at Point Roberts, the Icelandic community did much to foster and pre- serve their Lutheran heritage. Trinity Community Church, the only such structure ever built at Point Roberts, serves the spiritual needs of the resi- dents to this day. Runa Thordarson has outlined the history of the church. Here are excerpts from her account: On January 19, 1913, a church ser- vice was held in the Town Hall, Which later became the Grange Hall. The pas- tor was Rev. H. Leo of Winnipeg. He had been sent by the lcelandic Synod to the West coast to organize congrega- tions among the Icelandic people in Seattle, Blaine, Vancouver and Point Roberts. After the service a meeting was called and the Trinity Lutheran Congregation was formed with 22 con- firmed members and 33 young people and children. The first officers of the council were Paul Thorsteinson, President, Ingvar Goodman, Secretary and Jonas Swanson, Treasurer. Rev. H. Leo served as temporary pastor until Rev. Sigurdur Olafson was called for the Blaine-Point Roberts Parishes. He also preached occasional- ly in Bellingham, Crescent and Van- couver. All services were conducted in Icelandic. By 1915 services were being held in the School House with Sunday School in the homes. The first confirmation class was held in May, 1915. At a meeting of the congregation in November, 1916 an offer was made by Jonas Swanson to donate 100 feet of land for a church site. Mr. and Mrs. Solomon offered a half acre. This was considered more central and was grate- fully accepted. The property was cleared and leveled mostly by donated labour. In 1920, after many meetings and much discussion, it was decided to build a church 30’ x 46’ and rough lumber was ordered from Mr. Lar- gaud’s mill on Mill Road. He also made a generous donation. Plans were drawn by Gunnlauger Johannson, who was a carpenter and Helgi Thorsteinson, the treasurer. Mr. Gudbranson was hired as head carpen- ter and S. P. Scheving, J. S. Johannson, S. Myrdal and Jacob Jackson, all skilled carpenters, worked with him and other members as carpenter’s helpers. The women served lunches and coffee. All had to walk long dis- tances from their homes. The church building was completed in 1921 at the cost of $2,291 and an organ was purchased for $136. The church was dedicated on January 12, 1922 by the Rev. K. K. Olafson. Services and Sunday School were conducted in Engtish by 1937, with an occasional service in Icelandic for the older people. Regular services were twice a month and extra services were held by visiting pastors. Toward the end of her account Runa Thordarson described how the little church underwent a change in organization. A new association was formed in 1972 and the trend toward ecumenical outreach was emphasized. The Icelandic population had grown smaller over the years and the new res- idents representing many denomina- tions had moved into the community. The church, which had been known as Trinity Lutheran Congregation was renamed Trinity Community Church. People from all faiths were thereby encouraged to attend and to use the building for baptisms, weddings and funerals. Regular weekly services are now limited to the summer months. Pastor Wilton Emst of Benediction Lutheran Church at Tsawwassen, British Columbia, conducts the services. Point Robcrts Cemetery Records reveal the burial of 169 people. Of these there were 121 with Icelandic names and included were 68 who were bom in Iceland. A final note: The old wooden schoolhouse built in 1909 is gone and the brick school building that replaced it in 1937 is now the Community Centre, but there is good news for some. Beginning in December of this year, 1992, the Pre- School, Kindergarten and First Grade pupils will be getting their lessons in a new Point Roberts school building. The rest will continue their trek to Blainc each school day. P. S. My thanks to the Julius family for their assistance. Home of first lcelander to settle at Point Roberts, Kristjan Benson.

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