Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia
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Stephansson House Historic Site
01 June, 2005



On June 18, 2005, I attended an Icelandic Picnic (Islendingamót) hosted by the Stephan G. Stephansson Icelandic Society at Markerville, Alberta. Markerville is near Red Deer and was founded in 1888.

First, I visited the Stephansson House Historic Site. Stephan Gudmundsson (1853-1927) and his wife Helga Jonsdottir, moved to America in 1873 (Shawano County, Wisconsin; North Dakota and finally Alberta in 1889).

A farmer by trade, Stephan G. was also a prolific writer. In 1908, the first three volumes of Andvökur (Wakeful Nights) were published. Six volumes in total were published in Icelandic in 1923, 1924 and 1938. The "Poet of the Rocky Mountains" became widely recognized as the "greatest Icelandic poet since the 13th century".

Second, I visited the historice Markerville Creamery built in 1902. Dr. C. P. Marker, a Dane, was hired by the government to open creameries in Alberta and he helped to establish the creamery in this community. In 1903, the community was named Markerville in his honour.

Finally I attended the Icelandic Picnic. Icelanders first arrived in this area on June 27, 1888.
A special dedication was made to the "Women of Aspenland". A story board on the live of Stephan G's wife, Helga, was unveiled. Representatives from the Leif Eriksson Icelandic Canadian Club in Calgary (Dr. Ron Goodman, President) and Nordurljos Icelandic Club (Del Sveinson, President) were present. I met Shirley Dye, President of the Stephan G. Stephansson Icelandic Society and her sister Bernice Anderson.

I picked up a copy of selected translations from Andvökur first published in 1987. The book presents a wonderful selection of the topics covered by this writer.

Icelandic Poetry (1912)
In Iceland it's no happenstance
Whatever life's afforded
All their thoughts and circumstance
They've in verse recorded
If you listen and you're told
Their rhymed repertory literature
To your mind will then unfold
Culture, land and history.
(Translated by Sigurdur Wopnford)

J. Marshall Burgess, Q.C.

ABOUT US

The Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia was incorporated on July 29, 1998 to educate the public about Nova Scotia's Icelandic past. By sharing the history of the Icelandic settlers in Nova Scotia during the late 1800s, we hope to assist and encourage their descendents and others to preserve this part of Nova Scotia's heritage.