Lögberg-Heimskringla - 03.06.2005, Blaðsíða 5

Lögberg-Heimskringla » Föstudagur 3. júní 2005 • 5
Events in
Markerville
The Stephan G. Stepha-
nsson Icelandic Society of
Markerville’s biggest re-
sponsibility is the operation
of the Markerville Cream-
ery. It has also undertaken
the restoration of Fensala
Hall, among other yearly
held activities. The main
activities ahead are the fol-
lowing:
The Markerville
Creamery opened for the
2005 season on Saturday,
May 14 and will be open
daily until Labour Day. The
Creamery, a farmers’ co-
operative, was formed in
1899 and was the comrnu-
nity’s economic mainstay
until 1972. It was restored,
and the museum, with a gift
shop and a coffee shop, was
officially opened'in 1986.
“Modeling A Cen-
tury Along the Medicine-
Hola to Markerville’’ is the
Markerville Creamery’s
centennial exhibit. Guests
will step back a century as
they view the scale models
of buildings that were in the
community a century ago.
June 10: Farmers’
Day Community Barbecue
at the Creamery Museum.
Co-sponsored by Viking
Energy. An evening of food
and fun starts at 5:30 p.m.
Call (403) 728-3006 for in-
formation.
June 18 -19: Icelandic
Picnic at the Creamery Mu-
seum. Saturday aftemoon’s
schedule starts with games
at 1 p.m. in tlie picnic
grounds. The program at 3
p.m. features the crowning
of the fjallkona, selections
by the Saga Singers and the
unveiling of a ‘Woman of
Aspenland’ panel honour-
ing Helga Stephansson. A
potluck supper will follow.
Call (403) 728-3006 for in-
fomiation.
June 25 - 26: Pioneer
Days.
July 1: Canada Day at
the Museum.
August 14: Cream Day.
September 1: Volun-
teer Celebration.
November 4 - 6: Christ-
mas In Markerville.
February: Annual
General meeting and win-
terfest.
May: Viking Cup Golf
Toumament and auction
and yard sale.
PHOTO: STEINÞÓR GUÐBJARTSSON
The Historic Markervilie Creamery in Alberta is a popular meeting place, and coffee is ready at 10 o’clock every moming.
The hub of the community
TO EOMONTON
----©-------
TO ROCKY
MOUNTAIN HOUSE
HBTORJC
MARKERVBJLE |
CREAMERY (
CAROUNE
---- '{541? SPRUCE VIEW
RAVEN ^----------
DICKSONf
I
I
y
RED
DEER
DICKSON
dam innisfail.
TO CALGARY
Steinþór Guðbjartsson
Markerville, AB
At 10 o’clock every mom-
ing the Historic Markerville
Creamery in Alberta, Cana-
da, fills up with local people
and other guests. “This is our
meeting place,” says Bemice
An.dersen, one of the main
forces behind the Stephan G.
Stephansson Icelandic Society
of Markerville.
Markerville is between
Calgary and Edmonton, and
Icelanders were the first resi-
dents. Fifty of them crossed
the Red Deer River on June 27,
1888, after Sigurdur J. Bjoms-
son from North Dakota had
recommended the area. He was
senl west to look for a place
were Icelanders in North Da-
kota could move to and fish and
farm. In a letter, he described
the land that Ólafur Goodman
in Calgary had shown him. “I
like the country north of the
Red Deer River, the soil is good
and lots of grass, alternately
plow land and hay meadows,
with clumps of trees here and
there. Good fishing in the lakes
and rivers. The winters are said
to be shorter and milder than in
Manitoba and North Dakota.”
Soon after the settlers ar-
rived two schools were built.
One was at Tindastoll on a land
offered by Johann Bjomsson
and the other, Hola, was built
on Stephan G. Stephansson’s
property. In 1904, Hola School
was replaced with a new school
built next to Stephansson’s land.
The third school was Heckla.
In 1892, 23 men created
the debating society of Lestrar-
félagið Iðunn. The members
met regularly at the Tindastoll
Post Office. They purchased
new books, subscribed to the
newspapers Lögberg and Heim-
skringla, now Lögberg- Heim-
skringla, and established a
library. The women of the com-
munity founded a fundraising
club called Vonin, or “Hope,”
and it is still going strong.
In the early part of the 20th
century, Markerville and the
surrounding area was a flour-
ishing community of about 400
people of Icelandic descent.
Alter the bridge over the Medi-
cine River at Markerville was
constmcted, other ethnic groups
started moving to the commu-
nity and the railway track from
Stéttler to Nordegg, laid in
1911 and 1912, also attracted
many new settlers, whose roots
were mainly from Scandinavia
and Germany, to the area.
The late Johann Halldór
Johannsson, “Little Joe” as he
was called, got the Stephan
G. Stephansson lcelandic So-
ciety of Markerville going in
1974. The Society was named
after the poet who was one of
the first leaders of the commu-
nity and, among other things,
helped organize the Tindastoll
Butter and Cheese - Manufac-
turing Association in 1889, the
Co-Op that started the Marker-
ville Creamery.
About 60 people live in
Markerville, and although only
a few of the members of the So-
ciety are of Icelandic descent,
there are many other commu-
nity members interested in the
history and the culture and they
want to preserve as much of
Markerville as possible.
Last year members and
other volunteers accounted
for more than 5,000 volunteer
hours for the Society and with
the push to finish the Fensala
Hall, they will provide more
hours this year, according to
Kathleen Raines, Manager of
the Creamery.
The Stephan G. Stepha-
nsson Icelandic Society of
Markerville is a chapter of the
INL of NA and enjoys a kinship
with the Edmonton and Calgary
clubs.
Visit us on the web at http://www.lh-inc.ca