Árdís - 01.01.1953, Page 72

70
ÁRDÍ S
up and down the lake. Earlier reports tell of lumber being brought
in rafts from Big Island to the river.
This milling company ceased operation in 1890, but a saw
mill continued to be situated at Modruvollum, owned in turn by
Kristjon Finnson, Sveinn Thorvaldson and others. After the coming
of the railroad in 1914, Captain Howard and his two sons built a
lumber mill and box factory on the south side of the river near the
railroad. When this mill burned down it was not rebuilt. Isafold
was renamed Howardville in honor of Captain Howard, who farmed
there for some years. At present the saw-mill industry at Riverton
is largely in the hands of Sigtryggur Thorarinson, nephew of the
late Sigtryggur Jonasson. The logs are hauled from Big Island and
other places by tractor train in winter. There are also portable
mills that are taken to the logs, instead of the logs being brought
to the mill.
Fine boats are being built here at Chris Thorsteinson’s boat
factory, chiefly for the Lake Winnipeg fishing fleets, but orders
come in from other places.
The bringing in of hydro-electric power to the district has been
a great boon, particularly to the farm homes. Telephone service has
been extended and automatic phones installed. The town itself,
representing as it does many nationalities, is a truly Canadian town,
progressive, and with great hopes for the future. There is a fine
community spirit, as witness co-operative undertakings such as
the Community Hall, the curling rink, and the skating rink. Many
new homes, business establishments and a modern motion picture
theatre have been built lately. Planted trees and shrubs are
greatly improving the appearance of the town.
Continued and growing prosperity to Riverton and its neigh-
bouring communities.
Lengi lifi Fljotsbygd!
Sources consulted in the preparation of this article:
“Framfari.”
Thorgeirsson’s “Almanak”: Articles by Gudlaugur Mag-
nusson, Guttormur J. Guttormson, Fridrik J. Bergman, and
Olafur S. Thorgeirsson.
Jackson’s “Brot af Landnamssogu Nyja Islands”: Articles
by Stefan Eyolfson, Thorgrimur Jonsson, Fridrik Sveinsson
and Johann Briem.