Lögberg-Heimskringla - 14.01.2005, Side 7

Lögberg-Heimskringla * Föstudagur 14. janúar 2005 » 7
'
“SSON
One of the longest-running hardware stores in Canada
Steinþór Guðbjartsson
Lundar, MB
This year, Lundar’s G & E
Cash Store in Lundar will be
celebrating its 75th anniversary.
It is one pf the longest-running
hardware stores in Canada and
has been owned by the same
family from the very begin-
ning.
Vigfus J. Guttormsson, his
son John and son-in-Iaw Oscar
purchased a store at the comer
of Main Street and Railway Av-
enue in Lundar in 1930. They
built up a trade business and it
is still the main store in town.
John’s son, John Guttormson
Jr., started working there about
45 years ago and has been run-
ning the business for 40 years.
His father retired in 1984.
“They started this as a general
store and I keep it as such,” he
says. “I went to Winnipeg to
work and came back to Lundar
to help my dad with the store.
I had no intention to stay, but I
never left again.”
One can buy almost ev-
erything needed at G & E. The
grocery is there, a fumiture
section, appliances, tools, toys.
Just name it and John has it or
can get it for you. “I try to have
things people need and it has
paid off,” John says as he points
at washers and dryers in front
of his office.
Time for a hobby
Vigfus was a poet like his
famous brother Guttormur,
“but I don’t have that ability,”
John says.
On the other hand, he is a
good skater. Hockey has played
a big role in the community
since the Falcons of Winni-
peg became the first Olympic
Champions in 1920. Many
good teams have represented
Lundar and they have done
well in competitions. Two of
John’s office walls are covered
with photos of hockey stars like
Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr
and he still plays the game. “I
have played a lot of hockey
over the years and I was a big
admirer of Bobby Orr,” John
says. “The Lundar Memorial
Arena was officially opened in
the end of 1953 and before that
we had outdoor rinks. When we
played road hockey we some-
times played with horse turds
but not any more.”
In 1919 Vigfus Guttorms-
son and his wife Vilborg moved
to Lundar. They operated the
Lundar Hotel until the store
was purchased in 1930. Vigfus
was born in 1984 and emigrated
with his parents from Iceland to
Canada in 1875. They settled at
Icelandic River, where Riverton
is now, and that is were Vilborg
was bom.
John Guttormson, called
“Nonni,” was bom in 1901. His
wife was Sigrídur, daughter of
Olafur Jónsson and Guðrún
Bjömsdóttir, who emigrated
to Canada in 1900. Sigga was
bom in Lundar in 1903. “Origi-
nally the store was in the build-
ing where the home hardware
is but when I bought my dad
out in 19641 expanded, built on
and have done several additions
since,” John says.
Supportive community
It is hard for a small store in
the country to compete with the
big stores in the cities. Gener-
ally speaking, people go where
the most variety is and the low-
est price. “I’m not disputing
that, but on the whole the com-
munity has been very support-
ive,” John says. And they have
served the community well.
Two awards from Gulf in rec-
ognition and appreciation for
25 years in business and for 50
years in business are proof of
that. “Business has been good,”
John says.

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