The Icelandic Canadian - 01.08.2001, Side 21

Vol. 56 #3
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
103
have an Icelandic school. However, it was-
n’t until 1913, that such a school, the Jon
Bjarnason Academy was opened.
It would appear that Jon Sigurdsson was
fortunate to have known and to be able to
obtain advice from a person of such high
stature and quality.
Part Three
Jon Sigurdsson, A Pioneer Leader
This paper will now sketch Jon’s many
endeavours that were not dealt with in
Kristjan Asgeir Benediktsson’s 1917 docu-
ment. Whether Jon’s achievements were
due to his good intelligence, qualities for
leadership, his knowledge of Icelandic and
English, his energy and friendly, helpful
manner as related in an article in Olafur
Thorgeirsson’s Almanak in 1933 or to the
influence of Baldvinsson who gave him the
motivation to use his leadership qualities
for political purposes, as Benediktsson
wrote, or all of these, there is no doubt that
Jon’s accomplishments were extensive.
In Hnausa, John had engaged in farm-
ing, fishing and freighting. It was while liv-
ing at the family farm, Ekra, that we find
the first reference to his leadership quali-
ties. It appeared in a story in Logberg-
Heimskringla a few years ago in the
reprinted article, “The First Icelandic Day
in New Iceland,” which had originally
been published in Heimskringla on August
18,1894. This article informs readers about
how the first Islendingadagurinn in New
Iceland was held. It states that instruction
in cheese and butter making was to be held
in Hnausa on August 2. The instructor did-
n’t show up and since the weather was
good and a sizeable crowd had gathered
someone suggested that since there was an
Icelandic celebration being held in
Winnipeg on that very day they could also
have one. A committee was formed and its
members made plans for a day of celebra-
tions. Jon Sigurdsson who was only 23
years old was one of the six committee
members chosen. The celebration was a
success and people in New Iceland enjoyed
an annual Icelandic celebration in Hnausa
for many years, extending to the mid 1950s.
In 1905, his pioneer spirit led him to
develop a homestead in the new communi-
ty, to be named Vidir, north of Arborg. On
this farm, the Northwest quarter of section
30, township 23, range 2E, he built a large
two story house. Jon soon became one of
the most prominent community leaders,
taking a part in almost all aspects of com-
munity events. In 1906, the contract to
establish a Post Office was given to Jon.
The Post Office was built as an attachment
to the house and began operation on
November 1, 1906.
He chose the name “Vidir” for the post
office and his homestead. At a meeting of
settlers, Jon’s choice of the name “Vidir,”
meaning Willow, was ratified as the name
of the community.
As postmaster, Jon traveled to Geysir to
pick up the mail. This distance was short-
ened somewhat in 1910 when the railroad
to Arborg was constructed. His job meant
two trips to Arborg each week in order to
get the Vidir and Sylvan mail. The mail was
sorted in the Vidir Post Office where it was
available to be picked up by the residents.