Iceland review - 2014, Síða 43

ICELAND REVIEW 41
a lack of self-respect by the nation’s leaders.
Sigurður the farmer was not blamed for
the sale—Alþingi and the Reykjavík-based
government were referred to as ambition-
less cheapskates. Therefore the 1935 rec-
lamation of Geysir was a major event, the
papers declaring that Sigurður Jónasson
deserved the gratitude of the entire nation.
Ever since, his patriotism and generosity
have been cherished. And ever since, it has
never occurred to any Icelander that the
Haukadalur hot springs should be anything
else than the common property of the
Icelandic people. *
suitable buyer. A wealthy man, he simply
purchased the property himself for ISK
8,000, formally donating it to the Icelandic
people in August 1935. “It is my strong
belief that the government should own a
treasure such as Geysir,” he told the local
press. “First and foremost because the gov-
ernment must take measures to protect
Geysir from encroachment and turn the
area into a national park of sorts,” he added.
This was not the only gift which Sigurður
Jónasson bestowed on his compatriots.
Around the time when Iceland was prepar-
ing to become a republic he purchased the
historic land Bessastaðir on the Álftanes
peninsula close to the capital. From there,
the Danish King’s highest ranking repre-
sentatives had governed his colony, Iceland,
for centuries. In 1941 Sigurður gave the
nation the land and the buildings too for
the Presidential residence, a role it has
served ever since.
Many Icelanders regretted the selling of
Geysir to a foreigner in 1894. Especially
since the new owner was not a resident
of Iceland and showed it no interest.
Newspaper articles from the period show a
general consensus that the sale manifested
the geysir area today.