The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1971, Page 57

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
55
The Saga of Snow Lake
by Clifford Casselman
Publisher: Snow Lake Chamber of
Commerce
D. W. Friesen 8c Sons, Altona, Man.
1970, 86 p,p.
by Mattie Halldorson
Snow Lake is blessed with a clear
blue sky, that has received just that
hint of blue from the giant paint
brush to make it defy description; the
magenta sunsets that transform the
waterways to liquid fire. Snow Lake
listens understanding^ to the peren-
nial grief of the bull moose, the un-
expected splashes of the savage lun-
kers, or Canada geese. Every season
has its own private wonders to bestow
on Snow Lake. So says the author of
this very interesting book that has
recently been published: The Saga of
Snow Lake.
The author, Clifford W. Casselman,
is a native Manitoban, having been
born in the Interlake district, in Lun-
dar, Manitoba. His father was Russell
Casselman, butter-maker and owner
of the creamery at Eriksdale; his mo-
ther, Maria Halldorson, the daughter
of the pioneers, Halldor and Kristin
Halldorson, who came from Iceland
in the year 1887.
Snow Lake is the “eye” of the tri-
angle formed by the road from The
Pas to Thompson to Flin Flon. It is
surrounded by a myriad of lakes, rock
outcroppings, and the omnipresent
evergreens.
There is some speculation as to
how Snow Lake was discovered. A
man who has lived in the area for
many years had undertaken some hi-
storical research and felt, though not
certain, that such early explorers as
Henry Kelsey, in the employ of the
Hudson Bay Company, had come very
close on his journey in the year 1690
or 1692. If Kelsey had not, perhaps
Handy had, when he was on his way
to the Blackfoot Indians for the Hud-
son Bay Company. Written records
as early as 1896 show that a geological
federal survey had been made in the
Snow Lake-Wekusko area. Following
surveys in 1913 gold was discovered.
Chris R. Parres located and staked a
gold occurence on the east shore of
Snow Lake in 1927, where eventually
the town of Snow Lake was located.
When the editor was asked why he
had decided to come to this northern
town he said that a ibig part of the
decision was a feeling of wanting to
be a part of the adventure opening
up in this untouched wilderness.
The train trip in May 1949 to the
untamed country north of the 54th
parallel was a memorable one. The
first glimpse of the country was that
TO THE PEOPLE OF SELKIRK, MANITOBA
A JOYOUS
CHRISTMAS SEASON AND
A HAPPY NEW YEAR
From Mayor Frank Malis and Town Council of Selkirk