Search Results

By Heather Goodman Lytwyn Join Icelandic Roots Book Club on Thursday June 4 at 7 pm CDT by Zoom. We are featuring Sigfusson’s Roads by Svein Sigfusson, with co-hosts Heather Lytwyn and Alfreda Duffy. Their guest for the evening is the author’s nephew, Brian Sigfusson. More details are available on the IR Event Calendar. Sigfusson’s Roads is an inspiring story demonstrating the outstanding fortitude and skills of a group of men led by courage and determination. The more challenging the difficulties they faced, the more resilient they became. Sigfusson Transportation Company built the most extensive network of winter roads in North America by 1973. These roads were built of snow and ice and had to be rebuilt every fall. They began in the northern bush country in Saskatchewan, then moved into Manitoba and finally Ontario. They employed a combination of tractor and truck routes to open up and connect isolated northern communities. These areas had formerly relied only on the sporadic arrival of cargo planes for supplies and medical help. Their company created employment for thousands of men between the 1940s and the 1970s. They not only built winter roads, but supported the fishing industry by building and supplying fishing camps and stations at strategic locations. Their success came from their reliable guarantee of transportation of tons of fish from the north to southern Canada and the US before the spring thaw. Image of Svein Sigfusson sourced from the Lundar history book Wagons to Wings (pg 657) Anyone reading Svein’s book will be continually amazed at the creativity and inventive solutions that developed out of crisis and self-reliance. One of their challenges was thin ice caused by too much snow falling early in the season; it was insulated from the cold. One solution was the creation of an amphibious machine that mashed muskeg. They called it the Trailblazer. It traversed over deep snow, packing it down, allowing the ice to form. “The theory was that snow was one part ice crystals and seven parts air, and the drags effectively scoured out the air, and left hard ice.” (Sigfusson, p 175) One year they had a late start and the snow was deeper than usual. Even the Trailblazer became mired down in mud and snow. This forced them to use bombardiers that would never have worked if they had not refitted them with oversized skis, two feet wide, allowing them to ride over and pack the snow down so they could proceed. There are many examples of their inventive solutions to potential calamities, but the one that stands out the most for me is when a tractor hit a tree stump and broke the crankcase into smithereens. The only solution was to pick out hundreds of shards and fragments of the oil pump and put them back together, invent an oil screen from the cook’s flour sifter, fashion an oil pan from an oil drum, and repair it over days and nights when it was -8 degrees Fahrenheit (or -13 degrees Celsius). A recent photo of Brian Sigfusson, nephew of author, Svein Sigfusson. Photo shared by permission May 2026. This is just one of the examples of survival and self- reliance that was essential before they bought planes and could bring in parts that they needed. There were also the days when a tractor did sink on the crumbling ice. This happened more than 100 times in the 30 years in the bush. All but three men were saved, but likely no one ever forgot it could happen again. In the early years they worked without two-way radios, and learned to be wary not just for themselves but for their coworkers. They researched by foot and by plane mapping out the safest routes over 3000 miles. It is an amazing story and we hope you are able to join us on Thursday, June 4th to hear more from Brian Sigfusson, nephew of Svein Sigfusson, author of Sigfusson's Roads. The Samtal link will be sent to members on Wednesday, 3 June via the Samkoma newsletter. Be sure to check your email!

By Sunna Olafson Furstenau This article is shared from the IR Archives (2019) as we profile areas of Minnesota this month for our 2026 theme of North American Icelandic Settlements. Minneota is known as a significant settlement area. Sunna writes about some of the people who settled here and those who still call Minneota home. Additionally, she presents the projects and efforts that Icelandic Roots had undertaken at that time to preserve the past for the future. The expansion of historical details has continued since this was written. Today there is so much more to share, but still even more to learn. One of the projects that is very active and has had success is that of the "Unknown Photos" project. Each newsletter, as well as on our Facebook page, we present an unidentified picture where we ask for assistance from our readership. We extend a huge thank you to those who have offered clarification for many of the photos, but there are hundreds that remain unknown. Please help us continue this important project. As well, if you have family photos please send them to support@icelandicroots.com and they will be preserved on the IR Database for generations to come. Here is Sunna's original article: Sveinn Magnússon (I529564) was a talented photographer in Minneota, which is a large Icelandic settlement in southwest Minnesota. His photography studio was in the The Big Store building and he took many of the oldest and most beautiful photographs from this area. In this unknown photo, you can see his signature was "S. Magnus" and he was known as Swen or Swain Magnus. Let us know if you have the name of this beautiful young woman. We have other unknown photographs from this photographer and the Minneota area. Please help us if you could possibly identify them and work with our team on unknown photos. Email us here. Sveinn emigrated in 1879 at the age of 14 from Vopnafjörður aboard the ship Camoens. This ship brought many of the emigrants away from their beloved homeland when they left for their long journey to a settlement in North America. Sveinn's wife, Guðrún Salína Jónsdóttir (I529557 ), is a sister of Bjarni Jónsson. She went by the name Lena Jones before her marriage to Sveinn and was a registered nurse in Minneapolis before her marriage to Sveinn in 1897. Bjarni went by the name Barney Jones in Minneota and was also an early immigrant to Minneota. He was the town butcher and in 1892 opened the B. Jones Meat Market in a brand-new building. The following historical facts are selected from the books, An Illustrated History of Lyon County, Minnesota by Arthur P. Rose published in 1912 and The First One Hundred Years of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 1887-1987. Many stories about the Icelandic settlers are found in these wonderful books. The Icelandic settlement in Lyon County and the village of Minneota was formed by fifty Icelandic immigrants in August of 1877 who came directly from Iceland. A few Icelanders had settled here earlier including Gunnlaugur Pétursson, who emigrated in 1873 from Vopnafjörður. He first went to Wisconsin, and moved to Lyon County, Minnesota in 1875. He named his farm, Hákonarstaðir, after the farm of his birth and that of many generations of his ancestors. About 200 Icelanders came to this same area in 1879 and many others came in the years that followed. By 1890, Minneota had a population of 325 people and in 1895, the community had grown to 512 people. By 1900, the population was 800 people. The book quotes, “Others joined the colony later, giving to Lyon county a very desirable class of citizens.” The Icelanders mostly lived in Lyon, Lincoln, and Yellow Medicine Counties. Continuing quotes from the book, An Illustrated History of Lyon County, Minnesota: “Rev. Pall Thorinksson (sic – Rev. Páll Þorláksson) led a party of colonists from Manitoba in 1879 and located them in Pembina county, North Dakota, where they grew in numbers and wealth until now they form the next largest Icelandic colony in the New World.” Beginning in 1880, many people from the Minneota area settlement came to Pembina County. Of the Lyon county Icelanders, the Marshall News-Messenger of May 24, 1904, said: "The colony in this section of Minnesota has flourished, though, in a measure, through affiliation with other nationalities, the semblance of colonization has been lost. One noticeable characteristic of the Icelanders is their appreciation of the public school system of their adopted country and their thirst for knowledge and English education. During several years past the graduating classes of the Marshall High School have included students of Icelandic birth and descent, and most of these have continued their education at the University of Minnesota, at normal schools, and other institutions, and subsequently engaged in the professions.” An Icelandic Lutheran society was organized by 1880. St. Paul’s church was founded October 27, 1887. Today, visitors can see the beautiful St. Paul’s church and the Icelandic cemeteries of the area. Last fall, three IR team members visited the Minneota historic sites and learned more. They were Cathy Josephson, who was our tour leader, Edda Guðjónsdóttir, and me (Sunna). Cathy was born and raised in the Minneota area and is a magnificent historian. In 1995, she moved to Iceland and has lived in Vopnafjörður since that time working at the East Iceland Emigration Center since it was founded in 2004. She has been a volunteer genealogist and the Membership Director of Icelandic Roots since 2014. Edda joined the IR team in 2018 as the IR Librarian, translator, and a member of the documentary team. Read more about her summer work here. The IR Database continues to grow as we work on preserving all people of Icelandic ancestry, their stories, photos, graves, places, and much more. Our people moved around and families were split off from each other between Iceland, Canada, and the USA. Today, people of Icelandic descent live all around the world. If you would like to learn more about your Icelandic Roots, the history of certain areas, and how you fit into the story, see the website at Icelandic Roots. If you do not want to join the database, please make sure your family is preserved by filling out the “Cousins Across the Ocean” form. If you have family photos, send them to us. We will connect them into their individual pages. Thanks so very much for helping to preserve our shared Icelandic story! #UnknownPhotos #Emigration #IcelandicPioneers Additional Articles of Interest Editor Note: These are additional blog posts on the subject of Unknown Photos kept in the IR Roots article archive that were published since Sunna's blog post above: Trying to Identify 13,000 Photos of Unknown People from February 19, 2023 Unknown Photo Project Makes Discoveries from March 19, 2023 Members Helping Members and a New Look for the Database from April 17, 2023

By Becky Byerly-Adams, Brian Borgford, and Cathy Josephson This month's interesting Icelander is a tribute to William Jon Holm, more commonly referred to as Bill Holm. He is revered as many things, with poet, author, teacher and musician among them. This special collaborative article shares contributions from three Icelandic Roots volunteers and writers, Becky, Brian and Cathy. They tell us about Bill, but more so, they reveal more of the person he was. Join us in remembering a man who contributed so much, not only to his home community of Minneota, but to the Western Icelandic history that we share. “…iconoclast poet, curmudgeon, author, musician, teacher, traveller, friend.” “Bill… was the conscience of every man and the spokesman for civility and decency” Wayne Marvin Gudmundson (I540333), Bill’s friend Bill Holm (I549625) was, and is, a treasure for all Icelanders – a giant in stature, at six and a half feet tall, and a giant in his contribution to the written word. Bill was born in 1943 on a farm north of Minneota, Minnesota and passed on a scant 65 years later in Sioux Falls, South Dakota - less than two hundred kilometers south of his place of birth. He was buried in Westerheim Pioneer Cemetery, Westerheim, Lyon, Minnesota. American poet, essayist, memoirist, and musician born on a farm north of Minneota and attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota where he graduated in 1965. Later, he attended the University of Kansas. He was Professor of English at Southwest Minnesota State University, where he taught classes on poetry and literature until his retirement in 2007 at which time he was awarded the title Professor Emeritus. Although he spent the bulk of his working life in or near his hometown of Minneota, Bill was a man of the world having lived and worked in Iceland and China, with more exotic locations touched along the way from England to Madagascar. Each destination created a plethora of stories, many of which found their way to the pages of his catalogue of captivating books of prose and poetry, while others remained unwritten. Bill’s writings won several awards including the Cobb partnership award, which honors Americans who have contributed to strengthening bilateral relations with Iceland. The McKnight Distinguished Artist Award celebrates artists who have left a significant imprint on the culture of Minnesota. In an article for the MinnPost, Nick Hayes describes him as “the quintessential voice of our small towns and prairies” and “our lost Icelander in Minnesota.” He frequently appeared on A Prairie Home Companion, a live radio variety show and on Minnesota Public Radio. A notable illustration is his book “Coming Home Crazy,” where, through a series of essays, Bill describes the joys and frustrations he experienced while teaching in Xi’an, China in 1986-87. The culture, bureaucracy, travel pains and pleasures, and emotions of living and working in a foreign land are vividly portrayed. His return to The United States provided an appreciation of reverse culture shock, causing considerable reflection on his homeland and its residents, often in a decidedly critical vein, earning him the label, “curmudgeon.” Bill Holm was a Full-Blooded Icelander as both of his parents were born to Icelandic emigrants. They left northern and northeastern Iceland over the period of 1878 to 1901, settling in the farmlands of Minnesota. Bill was always conscious and proud of his Icelandic heritage. He made his first visit to Iceland in 1979. He considered making Iceland his home on that visit as a teacher. He already considered himself a writer, although he had not yet authored a book. This made him reconsider his relocation, and return “home” to write his collection of works. Brimnes - Bill Holm's home in Iceland. Photo sourced through IcelandicRoots.com database. In his later years, Bill spent his summers in Hofsos, Iceland, where he purchased a home known as Brimnes. This experience gave rise to his book “Windows of Brimnes” where he reflects while looking through the glass panes of his residence over the fjord. He philosophizes on life in Iceland, United States, and upon his heritage. He states that Brimnes is “…a series of magical windows with a few simple boards to hold them up to protect your head from the rain while you stare out to sea.” Of his stays in Hofsos Bill says, “I come with the terns, and I leave with the terns,” mirroring the migration patterns of the Arctic birds known locally as kria, meaning “the season of light.” Jack Plumley and Amber Drake served as Snorri interns at the emigration centre in Hofsos. They wrote of the magic of Brimnes when reciting their experiences living in the house Bill Holm once occupied. (You can access their articles below.) Bill was not a man of wealth, but he left us riches through his books of essays, reflections, and poetry, as seen through his “windows.” Note: The Windows of Brimnes: An American in Iceland was reviewed by the Icelandic Roots Book Club on 6 April 2023. Cathy Josephson was welcomed as our special guest. Bill: Cousin and Friend a personal story from Cathy Josephson A young Bill Holm. (Photo shared by Cathy J) My first memory of Bill is of me, sitting in the last pew on the left in St. Paul’s in Minneota, watching Bill being herded by his mother into “their” pew, more forward and as far left as possible. Bill fat, red, clumsy, smiley - just as he often described himself - and Jona smartly dressed with her red hair in place under a Sunday hat. To the older ladies, he was Billy, a wonder child who would do them all proud, so the contrary streak in me decided that Bill was just a spoiled kid and not so wonderful at all. Years and decades rolled by, and our paths seldom crossed until the days of poetry readings in Memorial Park in Minneota, when I was an occasional reader along with Bill and others. With the publishing of The Music of Failure, I felt that Bill had found his voice, and I became a faithful reader and collector of his work. Our friendship actually began years later. When I moved to Iceland, Bill’s estimation of my good sense was high and a bit mind-boggling. He bought Brimnes in Hofsós in 1998 and we met every summer either there or in Vopnafjörður. Bill discovered that I could read his writing, which surprised him, and he asked me to type for him. At Brimnes, he wrote sitting on the sofa, light pouring in the windows, birds carrying on noisily outside, the nearby river gurgling and splashing its last few meters to the sea. He wrote confidently, in pen, with few corrections - clearly knew what he wanted to say, beginning as early as 4:00 am until, perhaps, the first knock on the door, or noon, or naptime. Then stuffed the pages into a manilla envelope and mailed it from the grocery store just up the hill. I received it the next day, typed it and emailed it to Vesturfarasetrið in Hofsós where it was printed out for Bill to look over. As June moved into July, Bill would call wondering if we had a "back room" for him and would promise to ignore him for a few days while he finished some article or book or review. Ignoring Bill didn't go well. He walked into the house and wanted to mix me a gin & tonic. Wanted to catch up on our doings. Another gin & tonic. I had already set the ashtray nearby – only Bill could smoke in our house. Bill Holm (Photo shared by Cathy J) Then he disappeared to write. For some days the phone would not ring, there were no visitors, and he would write and write. And I would type and type. And we would finish, and then we three would celebrate. On a visit to Bustarfell, Bill sat in a sunny corner on the patio at the Hjáleigan Cafe there, alone, no one stopping to speak, with his cup of coffee and a book. I took a photo of him then. Later, he said it was wonderful to be “off” - to be in a place where he could relax, where he was not known as The Writer, but as just a summer visitor. Bill and Sverrir (Photo shared by Cathy J) One sunny day we headed north to Langanes. I wandered off as Bill and Sverrir, both with hands in pockets, stood where the house at Skoruvík had been. A pensive scene. Then over to Skálar, the abandoned village where Sverrir's mother was born. Again, two fellows standing on the ruined pier, contemplating something without words. Perhaps the view south across the outer ends of the East Fjords. Bill became very fond of Iceland's summer birds. On a visit to Hofsós, we took a drive on a country road. A hundred terns screeching overhead, diving at the car, veering off to dive again. Sverrir said, "Stop!", stepped out into the tall grass, stooped, picked up a tiny chick. The terns were suddenly silent, hovering overhead. Sverrir brought the chick to show Bill, carefully set it back in the grass, and then back in the car. The terns began their swooping and screeching again. Bill was speechless (a wonder in itself!). We drove on in silence. On 29 February 2009, the phone rang. On the other end, my father's deep voice said, "I have some very bad news. Bill has died." Cousins and friends, he and Bill would get together over a whiskey and a long talk. Even though they did not always agree, their mutual respect and enjoyment of a good discussion never diminished. I have certainly not always agreed with Bill - he was always a bit further to the left, and also more forward. Talkative, even blustery, sometimes just ranting. Such differences are best used to increase, not stand in the way of, friendship and collaboration, maturity and understanding. Through his writing and through our friendship, I have learned much I did not know (for example, the names of Chinese philosophers and recluses, and, thanks to Wikipedia, how to spell them!), and seen other sides of ideas and philosophies (not just Bill’s). We are all in this place together, and we do ourselves no favors by insisting that others sit in the same pew as we do. Thanks to Bill, I am, perhaps, a bit more to the left and forward than I was at eight or nine years old. Cathy also sent along two personal poems that Bill had written for them in their home in Vopnafjörður. Bill Holm (L) and Cathy Josephson (R) in Iceland. (Photo shared by Cathy, May 2026.) Cathy has shared two personal poems that Bill wrote when visiting: From their guestbook, dated 10 June 1998 Bill wrote: For the only C in the Vopnafjörður Símaskrá So get on the boat in the wrong direction Collapse the sails and back it Into the cold harbor: re-moor it to the half-rotted post. As in a re-wound film rushing toward Its beginning at double speed, The lovers put on their clothes for their first kiss, The cars uncrashed and whole again. If you do this, then everything in the universe Can be done twice from each direction, Dawn and sundown pushing the light Into each other's bodies. Bill wrote this after a visit where Sverrir and Cathy had bragged about how peaceful it was at their house: Vopnafjörður Aubade Morning after the solstice the sun already a quarter of the way up, rising with almost noisy light over the high ridge and the broad green valley. Cathy and Sverrir say they live in a quiet house, but a pair of snipes disturb the high air with their loud whirring wings, darting back and forth in some dance step I can’t figure out. A big raven flies low overhead its slow pumping wings churning the still air. A half mile away in the meadows by the Hof River a gang of geese honk their plaintive aubade. A whimbrel comes to sit on a fence post not far away, clacks a trill with its crabby beak, then disappears... If this gets any louder, his expression seems to say, my beak will curve even steeper down. Then the new lambs start their racket bleating for breakfast. Dawn is a noisy business here in a quiet house at 2:00 in the morning. Resources and Additional Reading Icelandic Roots: Blog Posts Reflections at Brimnes, Emigration Center Stories, Bill Holm’s Legacy, and Icelandic Adventures Interview With Bill Holm Podcast Bill Holm - Icelandic-American Poet and Essayist YouTube: Bill Holm Through the Windows of Brimnes Drake, Amber; Snorri Alum 2018: First Week in Hofsós – Amber's European Adventures Hayes, Nick; journalist MinnPost Aug, 30, 2011 William (Bill) Holm. in Horvath Funeral Service [obituary]. Feb 2026. Retrieved from: https://www.horvathfuneralservice.com/obituaries/william-holm

by Gunnar Birgisson Gunnar presents another Icelandic word to help us understand the finest that nature has to offer in Iceland. He takes us to its shores. Fjara is accurately translated as the intertidal zone of the shoreline. But there’s much more to a fjara than can be conveyed by such a sterile scientific description. The fjara is a place of wonder. But, before continuing, let me emphasize I’m not talking about the other, related meaning of the word. Fjara also means low tide, the opposite of high tide, flóð. And that word, flóð, also means flood. Yes, it‘s a bit confusing. So let's make our way to the fjara. It's a place that appears at low tide, much as your lap is a place that appears when you sit down. It can be rocky or sandy, or in some places, mud flats. The receded ocean reveals what lives by the shore: seaweed, barnacles, mussels, and more. The complexity of the ecosystem can depend on how sheltered the coast is from the open sea and how much protection there is from the waves. More than just a beach, the fjara isn’t a place for people to dominate. You can walk in the fjara, but not at a brisk workout pace. You don’t throw frisbees around. Instead, you amble along with humility, in quiet contemplation, appreciating the rhythms of nature, listening to the lapping of the waves that aren't reaching the land you are traversing. You see shore birds like oystercatchers and dunlin searching for small mollusks, worms, and insects to eat. Gulls and arctic terns soar overhead, and eider sea ducks bob offshore. You may scramble around and over rocks and small cliffs, seeing what creatures might be found in tidal pools. And the footing is typically uneven, so you must be attentive to avoid slipping on seaweed or a rock covered in algae. As you walk in this zone that the sea has temporarily ceded, you’ll be aware of the intersection between the three great dimensions of the natural world: the sea, the land, the air, and the life that connects and clings to all of these. Of course, it’s not all beauty. You may also find trash, often remnants of fishing gear brought to the shore by the current and waves. Those who care the most will not only pick up trash but also bring a bag to collect more. What’s precious must be protected, even if it disappears at high tide.

By Jody Arman-Jones This month Icelandic Roots explores the Icelandic settlements in Minnesota. The challenges faced were similar to many other settlements, but perseverance and hope prevailed. Their legacy lives on. The journey to Minnesota was not an easy one for Icelandic emigrants of the 19th century. As described in They Chose Minnesota, A Survey of the State’s Ethnic Groups, (6) and again by Cathy Josephson in her aptly named presentation, Rails, Trails, Rivers and Trails, (11) multiple modes of transportation were needed to reach the “Midwest” of the United States. It truly boggles the imagination to think how difficult the trip was for the large waves of emigrants at that time. Much has been written about the long, arduous journey from their homeland to North America. The vast majority of Icelanders left their home farms, often walking or a few using horses, to get to an emigration port in Iceland, carrying whatever personal belongings they wished to take with them. From these emigration ports, they boarded ocean-going vessels that usually took them to their first stop in Scotland or England and from there, a second ocean voyage was needed to get to North America. Some Icelanders landed in east coast ports such as Halifax or New York, but more sailed up the St. Lawrence Seaway, landing in Canadian ports such as Montreal and Quebec City before traveling overland or boarding trains or other ships to navigate further into the North American continent. At some point, those options were unavailable, and ox carts and foot travel were then utilized. “The main emigration began in the 1870s, when families and groups of families began moving to the Great Lakes states, seeking to escape the famine and overcrowding that had struck Iceland just as they had other Scandinavian lands. At first, the Icelanders did not arrive in sufficient numbers to start their own communities and so tended to attach themselves to Norwegian or Swedish farm settlements, or to go to work for established farmers. Within a few decades, though, Icelandic towns had been founded in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and Icelandic schools established.” (13) In addition to new opportunities, wonderful natural resources and amazing farmland, the Homestead Act, enacted by the United States government in 1862 during the US Civil War, drew many pioneers to the Midwest. It “provided that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. Claimants were required to live on and “improve” their plot by cultivating the land. After five years on the land, the original filer was entitled to the property, free and clear, except for a small registration fee. Title could also be acquired after only a six-month residency and trivial improvements, provided the claimant paid the government $1.25 per acre.” (7) The act was repealed in 1976 in the continental U.S. and in 1986 in Alaska. “Minneota” Gunnlaugur Pétursson and wife Guðbjörg Jónsdóttir (c.1900). Photo credit: Almanak 1900. Winnipeg, MB:P Ólafur S. Thorgeirsson, p56. The first documented Icelanders to arrive in Minnesota appear to have settled in the southwestern part of the State. Many of you may be aware of the Minneota, Minnesota Icelandic settlement, due in great part to the publicity it received in 2025 during the 150th year since the arrival of its first Icelandic settler, Gunnlaugur Pétursson (I337829), his wife, Guðbjörg Jónsdóttir (I537431), and their family, on July 4, 1875. This settlement would grow to become, arguably, the largest Icelandic settlement in the United States and encompass three counties of the State: Lincoln, Lyon, and Yellow Medicine. Chronicled by Thorstina Jackson in May 1925, “At present there are about 1,000 first and second generation Icelanders in this community.” (9) Despite its fame within the Icelandic community, the Minneota area was quite ethnically diverse with many Belgian and Dutch in addition to Icelanders, Norwegians and Swedes, and known for some of the best farmland to be had anywhere. Sign near St. Paul’s (Icelandic) Church in Minneota, Minnesota commemorating the first Icelandic settlement in Minnesota. Photo Credit: Kathryn Rothman [blog post] 11 Jun 2024 Similar to other Icelandic emigrants, the family did not travel directly to Minneota. They began their journey in Northeast Iceland, emigrating from the port of Vopnafjörður in early 1873 and passing through Glasgow, Scotland, before entering the United States at the port of New York, New York, on September 12, 1873. They then traveled to Wisconsin, first to Washington Island, and later to Iowa County (Dodgeville area), where Gunnlaugur worked for Norwegian emigrants, learning farming and other trades. When his Norwegian neighbors moved on to Minnesota, Gunnlaugur decided to follow them. Other Icelanders began arriving in Minneota shortly after that; some directly from Iceland, others from Schwano, Milwaukee, and other spots in Wisconsin. Other memorable names in the area include: Ólafur Guðjón Arngrímsson. Photo Credit: Icelandic Roots Database, (I3445295) The Big Store built by Ólafur Guðjón Arngrímsson (I3445295) AKA O.G. Anderson who emigrated in 1879 at age 19 from the North Múlasýsla in East Iceland. “He built The O.G. Anderson & Co. “…a 1901 two-story brick structure,... the largest department store between Mankato, Minnesota, and Watertown, South Dakota, when it was built. The first floor sold an assortment of dry goods and groceries while the Opera Hall on the second floor was the site of a variety of community events including lectures, plays, basketball games and roller skating, to name a few.” (15) The Society for the Preservation of Minneota History (SPMH) purchased the building in 1978 and has been involved in restoring and maintaining it ever since. The first floor is now the delightful Minneota Public Library, and the second-floor Opera Hall space is open and available for events. Thorstina Jackson wrote, “Iceland has no illiterate peasant class; even as far back as the 18th century, ability to read was a necessary qualification in joining the church and becoming an active member of the community.” (9) Perhaps that is one reason Minneota produced a number of writers and publications such as Vinland, thought to be the only Icelandic-language paper in the United States, published from 1902–1908. (21) The editor and publisher was G. B. Björnson (I338313) AKA Gunnar Björnsson who emigrated from North Múlasýsla in 1876 with his mother. G.B. also published the Icelandic-language periodical Kennarinn (“The Teacher”) used in Icelandic Lutheran Sunday schools, as well as The Minneota Mascot which is still published today. He also served as postmaster and Minnesota State Representative from Lyon County. William Jon (Bill) Holm (I549625) was born on a farm in the Minneota area in 1943, but as an adult frequently visited his home, Brimnes, in Hofsós, Iceland. He was a giant of a man, standing nearly 6’6” tall and produced an abundance of written works. He was a prolific writer of poems, books, essays, and articles, with his work adapted many times for theater, radio, and TV productions and available throughout the world. He held a number of esteemed academic positions and was recognized with many awards. (14; 22) Roseau According to Eric Jonasson, the first Icelandic settlers arrived in 1893. (10) Early settlers to this area were usually coming directly from Iceland and often moved on to Canadian settlements. Both Roseau and the Piney settlement (AKA Pine Valley Byggð), located just across the border in Manitoba, shared close ties. Both are on the watershed of the Roseau River, and residents often went back and forth. They also shared the experience of the fall of 1897 forest fire that began in the Roseau area and spread to Piney. Despite the devastation this caused, it also seemed to bring attention to the two settlements, and an influx of Icelanders arrived, mostly from North Dakota. (16) Metúsalem Vigfússon (I339845) & Borghildur Sigmundsdóttir Long (I37594) (5) Metúsalem Vigfússon (I339845) AKA Charles Peterson was born in Northeast Iceland and his wife, Borghildur Sigmundsdóttir Long (I37594) who was originally from East Iceland, arrived in Roseau in 1896 after a circuitous route of stops between there and Iceland. Both lost parents early in life. The couple met and married in North Dakota in 1889. While there, Metúsalem did a number of different types of work, including serving as postmaster. Eleven years later, in 1907, the couple moved to Blaine, and finally, in 1917, to Yakima, Washington, where they remained and are buried. (5) Per Eric Jonasson: “The following settlements, while by no means insignificant, were of lesser importance than those mentioned previously primarily because the Icelandic people were greatly outnumbered by people of other ethnic groups.” (10) Duluth Located at the southern tip of Lake Superior, Duluth was the terminus for the Great Lakes Steamboat Service and eventually a stop on the railroads. Icelanders used the city as a jumping off point to settlements further west and north, though some were just plain tired and chose to stay in the port city, along with many other emigrants, particularly of Scandinavian ancestry. It is interesting to note that the cemetery created in 1881 (the first year Eric Jonasson indicates Icelandic settlement in the town) by the First Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church and containing a number of Icelanders has been recently in the news. The cemetery is located on the shores of Lake Superior, next to the largest mansion in Duluth, known as Glensheen, where a century and a half of strong waves and lake ice damage has caused the cemetery to slowly slide into Lake Superior. St. Louis County is seeking grants from the State of Minnesota to stabilize the area. Kristjan Niels Jónsson/Julius (c.1880s). Photo Credit: Icelandic Roots Database, (I18749) Duluth was also a community for Icelanders to move to and from or return to over the years. Kristjan Niels Jónsson/Julius (I18749), AKA K.N. Julius or Káinn was born in 1859 in Akureyri, and is an example of such a transient emigrant. He first settled in Winnipeg in 1878, then Duluth, and finally, in about 1894, settled in Thingvalla Township, North Dakota, where his memorial stands today. He never married but was a beloved poet and humorist, recognized both in Iceland and the Western Icelandic communities alike. Halldóra Guðmundsdóttir Olson (I2702) emigrated from Snæfellsnessýsla in 1886 with her husband, Siggeir Ólafsson/Olson (I525881) and family. By 1890, the family settled in Duluth where she became a famous midwife, eventually building her own 12-bed hospital in the city. “In an era when home births were still the norm, a 1907 Duluth News Tribune story reported that Olson—'the oldest and most popular midwife at the head of the lakes'—had delivered 1,100 babies, including 'at least 112' in that year alone.” (1) Her great-grandson-in-law, Gordon Krantz wrote, "The story within the family was that Halldora had never lost either a mother or child—which is hard to believe even if she was a remarkable midwife." (12) Halldora Olson (1855–1921) Photo Credit: Icelandic National League “In 1891, William Mayo and Minnesota lawmakers began requiring midwives to register. Olson was among the first Duluth midwives to do so and she became the first to have her maternity hospital win city certification.” (18) Jóhann Einarsson (I139413) was born in 1853 in Skagafjarðarsýsla in North Iceland and emigrated, along with his wife, Elín Benónýsdóttir (I139953) and family in 1883, first to Walsh County, North Dakota and a year later to Duluth, Minnesota. Jóhann owned a dairy in Duluth for some 18 years and was known as a poet and writer of stories. Their three children attended Duluth schools from elementary through high school, and the two boys went on to study at the University of Minnesota. The eldest, Sturla (I139954), became a distinguished astronomer and Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. The younger son, Baldur (I139955), studied agriculture, then moved near Seattle, where he married and ran a dairy farm from 1912 until 1961. Their sister, Nanna (I139956), became a teacher in Duluth until 1918, when she also moved to Seattle, where she continued to teach. Einarsson Family: Sturla (top left), Baldur (top right), Jóhann (bottom left) Nanna (bottom right). Photo Credit: Photo album owned by Colleen Nelson; image posted to St. Louis County Historical Society, Facebook, 16 May 2024. The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul Located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, Minneapolis and St. Paul have long been the economic drivers of the State of Minnesota. They have always had a quite diverse population, with Germans, Norwegians, Swedes, Irish, and Jews, some of the larger emigrant ethnicities. As early as 1876, some Icelandic emigrants stayed in The Cities once they reached the area due to opportunities for jobs, but most continued moving west and north to other Icelandic settlement locations. By the early 20th century, jobs and higher educational opportunities drew Western Icelanders back from surrounding Icelandic areas to more agricultural communities. The Twin Cities boast some 20 colleges and universities (including the main campus of the University of Minnesota). Today, most Western Icelanders in The Cities trace their emigrant ancestors from the Northeast settlements of North Dakota and the Minneota settlement. There is also a growing number of 20th and 21st-century Icelandic emigrants, again due to the higher educational opportunities and presence of many multinational and Fortune 500 companies. Kristjan “Val” Valdimar (I510617) Photo shared with permission of his family. Kristjan “Val” Valdimar (I510617) Bjornson was born in Minneota in 1906. His father, Gunnar Björnsson (I338313), arrived from Iceland in 1876 and his mother, Ingibjörg Ágústína Jónsdóttir/Hordal (I525863), in 1883. Following his graduation from Minneota High School in 1924, Val then graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus in 1930. He is known as a journalist, editor, military person, and Treasurer of the State of Minnesota. While serving during WWII in Iceland, he met and subsequently married his wife, Guðrún Jónsdóttir (I244424) of Ísafjörður, in 1946. He is remembered for his work strengthening the ties between Western Icelanders and Iceland, including creating and funding the Val Bjornson Icelandic Exchange Scholarship in 1982, which has allowed some 100 students to attend either the University of Iceland (Háskóli Íslands) or the University of Minnesota. (19; 20) _____________________ Resources 1) Byerly-Adams, Becky & Shaune Jonasson. “Halldóra Guðmundsdóttir, First Midwife in Duluth.” Rætur Fréttir/Roots News. 09 May 2026. Retrieved from: https://www.icelandicroots.com/post/halld%C3%B3ra-gu%C3%B0mundsd%C3%B3ttir-first-midwife-in-duluth. 2) Doctor, Jason & Cathy Josephson. They Left for Minnesota. Icelandic Roots. [webinar]. 6 Nov 2024. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIqbpVkOWiA. 3) Furstenau, Sunna. “No Greater Love.” Icelandic Roots. [blog post]. 30 Mar 2018. https://www.icelandicroots.com/post/2018/03/30/no-greater-love 4) Helgason, Hálfdan. The Emigration from Iceland to North America (Weekly Newsletter #13) 14 Jun 2003. Retrieved from: https://www.halfdan.is/news/newsletter_013.htm. 5) Helgason, Hálfdan. The Emigration from Iceland to North America (Weekly Newsletter #37) 18 Apr 2004. Retrieved from: https://www.halfdan.is/news/newsletter_037.htm. 6) Holmquist, June Drenning (ed.). They Chose Minnesota, A Survey of the State’s Ethnic Groups, St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press,1981. Retrieved from: https://archive.org/details/theychoseminneso0000unse/page/n5/mode/2up : 20 May 2026. 7) Homestead Act, 1862. National Archives. 20 May 1862. Retrieved from: https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/homestead-act. 8) Icelandic National League of North America. “Biographies, Halldora Olson,” in Biographies. Retrieved from: https://inlofna.org/biographies/halldora-olson 9) Jackson, Thorstina. “Icelandic Communities in America: Cultural Backgrounds and Early Settlements.” The Journal of Social Forces, v3(4): pp. 680–686, 1925. Acquire from: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/799406 10) Jonasson, Eric. “Icelandic Settlements in North America.” Icelandic Connection, v73(1): p22, 2023. Retrieved from: https://timarit.is/page/8146886#page/n23/mode/2up . 11) Josephson, Cathy, Sails, Rails, Rivers and Trails–The Journey West. Icelandic Roots. [webinar]. 27 Apr 2021. Retrieved from: .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtQMdhKKVvg. 12) Krantz, Gordon. Halldora’s Line: A Genealogical and Biographic Report of Halldora Guðmundsdottir Olson and of her husband, Siggeir Olafsson Olson. [e-document] 2014. Retrieved from: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/c2c3fd_171a783da4244933942402cce85e1f66.pdf : 19 May 2026. 13) Library of Congress, “Immigration and relocation in U.S. History: The Icelanders.” Classroom Materials. Retrieved from: https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/scandinavian/the-icelanders/ . 14) Milkweed Editions. “Bill Holm” in Milkweed. Retrieved from: https://milkweed.org/author/bill-holm. 15) Minneota Public Library. “Society for the Preservation of Minnesota’s Heritage (SPMH)”. [web page]. Retrieved from: https://minneotalibrary.org/about/spmh/ . 16) Thor Group (trans.) “Pine Valley byggð (Pine Valley Settlement)” in Vesturfarar. 01 Jun 2018. Retrieved from: https://vesturfarar.is/byggdir/manitoba/pine-valley-byggd/?lang=en 17) Thor Group (trans.), Minnesota in Vesturfarar 18 Mar 2020. Retrieved from: https://vesturfarar.is/byggdir/minnesota/?lang=en, 18) “Biographies: Halldora Olson” in Icelandic National League of North America [web page]. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://inlofna.org/biographies/halldora-olson . 19) “Val Bjornson Icelandic Exchange Scholarship” in Icelandic Hekla Club. [web page]. (Used with permission of the family) Retrieved from: https://sites.google.com/view/icelandic-hekla-club/val-bj%C3%B6rnson-icelandic-exchange-scholarship. 20) “Valdimar Björnsson” in Vesturfarar. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://vesturfarar.is/uncategorized-is/valdimar-bjornsson/?lang=en 21) “Vinland”. Minnesota Historical Society, Retrieved from: https://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/hub/v%C3%ADnland 22) William (Bill) Holm. in Horvath Funeral Service [obituary]. Feb 2026. Retrieved from: https://www.horvathfuneralservice.com/obituaries/william-holm

The Copeland Ship Note: If you are attending either of this year's Icelandic Celebrations in Mountain, North Dakota, or Gimli, Manitoba, Icelandic Roots hosts a free genealogy center you could participate in. Filling out a Cousins Across the Ocean form ahead of time allows the genealogists to have your family information ready to view during the sessions. The Icelandic Roots genealogy database is a comprehensive collection of genealogical records on Western Icelanders (those who emigrated to the Americas between 1850 and 1915) and their descendants. With 858,284 profiles in the database—and more added every week—it’s no accident that this database is the dream resource for any family historian or historical writer. Since 2013, a dedicated team of volunteers has meticulously compiled and vetted an array of records, including but not limited to: Birth records Death records Parish records Marriage/divorce records Passenger lists Ship records Place names and photos Map coordinates Military service records Individual stories Media (photos, documents, etc.) Family connections Sunna and Hálfdan Icelandic Roots is a non-profit organization built on the work of the Icelandic genealogist Hálfdan Helgason, whose mission was to create a digital resource base for the benefit of all Icelanders, people of Icelandic heritage, and their families worldwide. Beginning in 2003, Sunna Olafson Furstenau worked with Hálfdan and George Freeman for the "Cousins Across the Ocean" project and collaborated with other Icelandic genealogists. When Hálfdan transferred his database to Icelandic Roots in 2013, what started as a blog, newsletter, and Facebook page grew into the vibrant nonprofit 501c3 organization we know today. (Learn more about our history here) We Operate on Passion and Dedication Everything we do here at Icelandic Roots comes from the generous time and expertise our volunteers give to the organization. Icelandic Roots doesn’t receive government funding. We rely on the kind donations and membership fees from people like you! It’s our collective passion for keeping our shared history alive that makes it all work. Some of our dedicated volunteers at the 2024 INLNA Convention in Banff, AB But we also need your help! Our researchers put many hours into public record searches and maintain community connections to help keep the database up to date, but most of our contemporary information comes from you—our members, supporters, and followers. Cousins Across the Ocean You can help us grow and strengthen the database for future generations by filling in a “Cousins Across the Ocean Form.” Keeping our database current helps connect Icelandic descendants outside of Iceland with their Icelandic heritage and their cousins back in Iceland. You can fill in a form more than once, and we encourage you to fill one in every time you have an update for your family. Some examples of information you can share with our genealogy team include: Births Baptism Achievements Life Markers or Celebrations Military Service Obituaries Why Share Your Family Story with Icelandic Roots? Reason #1: Icelandic Roots Maintains a Highly Secure and Private Database Our database is fully secure and private (read our privacy policies here), accessible only to paying members and our dedicated volunteers. We have different membership levels, but only individuals who have proven Icelandic ancestry can become Full-Access Members with access to the genealogy database. This means that the information within the database is not open to the wider general public, and makes us different from other general genealogy websites that are open to anyone. Individual profile pages are open to members by default, but can be set to private at any time. A private profile means only the genealogists can view the information stored on the profile page. For example, someone in a government position or a public setting might want to hide their current details. Once their desire for privacy is over, the private setting can be switched back to public. In one scenario, someone might retire and want to connect with cousins more easily. In another scenario, if a relative passes away, the family might want to make the information public for genealogy purposes. In any case, changing a profile page from public to private or back again can be done at any time by our genealogy team. Reason #2: Icelandic Roots Contains an Unparalleled Amount of Detailed Information on Icelandic Genealogy The Icelandic roots database is the largest resource for genealogical information on Icelandic immigrants in North America and South America. Our experts have collected an array of records vetted by our experienced team of Icelandic genealogists (meet our team). The volume of information you’ll discover in our database on Western Icelanders is unparalleled. From passenger ship lists to military records to historical timelines and family stories, details that normally take months to track down are available at your fingertips. Every detail that is entered into the Icelandic Roots genealogical database is fact-checked as best as possible by a team of experienced genealogists. When you use Icelandic Roots, you're not building an isolated family tree from scratch; you’re exploring the existing tree of Icelandic history and your family’s branch within it. When you log on, you’ll instantly be able to see how you're connected with the entire web of Icelandic immigrants and families. Reason #3: You're Supporting Philanthropy in the Community Icelandic Roots is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the Icelandic immigration story (read our mission). Before becoming a member or making a donation, you may wonder where the money goes. Because we have a team of extremely talented, passionate, and dedicated volunteers who keep this organization running—from cyber security to data entry to hosting social events and interacting with the members—we’re able to give a large percentage of the membership fees and donations back into our Icelandic communities across North America and Iceland. We have given out hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships and heritage grants to exciting programs in Canada, Iceland, and the United States. Reason #4: Keep the Story Going for Future Generations You may know your family history well, but what about your children or grandchildren? Icelandic Roots offers you a digital way to keep your family story secure for future generations to have access to and connect with when their interest strikes them. Our team of genealogists work hard to scour newspapers for important information, such as birth announcements, marriage announcements, and obituaries. But this is not an efficient, nor perfect, system. The best way that you can help us grow the database and keep it robust for the next generation is to submit your family information. As of publishing this article, we have over 858,704 entries already in the database—our homepage counter updates every 15 minutes. Reason #5: It’s Completely Free! We run the Cousins Across the Ocean Project because we’re passionate about serving our community. The form is completely free for anyone of Icelandic ancestry to fill in and submit—whether or not you’re a member yet. And if you would like to support the work we do financially, donations of any amount are always welcome. Fill Out a Cousins Across the Ocean Form Are you of Icelandic descent? Head over to our Cousins Across the Ocean page and fill out your form for free.

By Bryndís Viglundsdóttir The Icelandic Roots Writers' Group meets monthly to discuss Icelandic life and lore. One of their recent writing prompts was "A Candle in the Dark", which has a different meaning for each of us. Today, we present an article by accomplished Writing Group member, Bryndís Viglundsdóttir, author and dedicated member of Icelandic Roots. Here is her story: I wrote a blog post Amma Sumarlína-A Mother's Day Remembrance for the Mother’s Day edition of Rætur-Fréttir/Roots-News in 2022. In that post, I talked about my maternal grandparents, mostly my amma, Sumarlína Pétursdóttir (I128090), and certainly also about afi, Grímur Jónsson (I129017). I venture to say that the flame of the candle they held in their hands shone brightly in the dark. That flame was a blessing for many. May I suggest that you, dear reader, view the blog mentioned above to understand the meaning behind my sincere words. I will now also add this story about the mindset of my afi, Grímur. My afi, Grímur Jónsson (1884-1957), was a fisherman when he was a young man. He had a safe and good position on the trawler Rán, owned by the company Alliance. In those days, steady work was hard to come by; only the best were given steady jobs. The crew would fish until the trawler could not carry more, and then they sailed to England to land and sell the catch. They would usually land in Grimsby, sometimes in Hull. They typically stayed anchored for two or three days. They had the evenings off and, having made themselves presentable, they took off into town to find a pub for some English beer and, hopefully, some fun. Afi would never go with the crew in search of adventure. When I later asked him why, he smiled and said, “I was not interested in beer, nor the other ingredients available in the harbour pubs.” On one such trip to Grimsby, the catch was especially good and sold for the best price. The company would pay the crew their cut while they were still in the harbour, and this time they got a very nice amount of English pounds. Afi would, as always when he was abroad selling the fish, run to the village and find something nice to bring home for his children and his wife, whom he loved so dearly. There were three youngsters on the boat sailing abroad for the first time. Some of the older men told them to get ready to join the crew for some fun. Be sure to take your pay with you! So, they did. Once they were in the pub, the older mates told the youngsters that they must order rounds for the crew and drink well! In no time, these youngsters, who were not used to drinking beer or anything stronger than whey, were drunk, and their pockets were empty. Thus, they returned to the boat. Afi helped them to their bunks. The following morning, they were in rather a sorry state. They had all planned to find something nice for their parents and some toys and sweets for their sisters and brothers. After this experience, Afi would talk to the young boys on the crew. He offered to guard their pay while they visited a pub or two. They would have enough for a couple of glasses of stout for themselves, but certainly not enough to treat the entire crew. In this way, they would have money to bring something nice to their families and also help their parents with some money. All of these young men accepted Afi’s offer. Many years later, I was visiting Amma and Afi and, while I was there, a guest came by. He visited with Afi and they seemed like good friends. When I asked Afi who this man was, he told me they had been crew members together on Rán many years ago. They had become friends then and there. Afi passed away when I was 19 years old, and I miss him to this day. We gave our son his name, Grímur. Grímur Jónsson and Sumarlína Pétursdóttir

By Becky Byerly-Adams and Shaune Jonasson Our settlement area this month is Minnesota. In the Icelandic settlement areas, immigrants made a significant difference within their communities and beyond. This article profiles a woman who carved a life as a caregiver in her community. Halldóra Guðmundsdóttir was loved and honoured by those she cared for within her family, but also in her hospital home in Duluth, MN. Her life was not always easy, even getting into trouble with the law upon occasion. Her legacy lives on. Born on the now abandoned farm Elliði near Staðarstraður on the Snæfellnes peninsula on August 5, 1854, Halldóra Guðmundsdóttir (I2702), would go on to become one of Duluth, Minnesota’s most respected midwives. A 1907 Duluth News Tribune article described her as the “oldest and most popular midwife at the head of the lakes” noting she had delivered 1,100 babies - at least 112 that year alone. Halldóra Guðmundsdóttir (I2702) Photo sourced from Icelandic Roots Genealogy Database. Halldóra was the third of eight children born to Guðmundur Stefánsson and Anna Sigurðardóttir, though only four of the children lived to adulthood. When Halldóra was seven years old, her mother died, and she and her youngest brother Sveinn, were raised by her paternal aunt, Þorbjörg Stefánsdóttir, I503804. Þorbjörg was a midwife and under her tutelage Halldóra found her calling to the profession. On September 28, 1874, Halldóra married Siggeir Ólafsson at Elliði. Their wedding became famous due to a severe storm, still known as Halidóru Bylur (Halldóra’s Storm), stranding the guests for three days. Over the next nine years, Halldóra gave birth to five children, though only two survived to adulthood. The family became part of the great wave of emigration, departing in 1886 from Borðeyri on the SS Cameons to Scotland, and then on to Quebec aboard the SS Hibernian. By 1890 the family had settled in Duluth, Minnesota which had a significant Icelandic community. After learning English, Halldóra became one of the city’s first registered midwives and established its first city-certified maternity hospital in her family home. Halldóra, her husband, Siggeir, and their sons, Þorgeir "Thor" Finnbogi and Ólafur/Oliver, lived downstairs, while upstairs there were ten small bedrooms, bathrooms, and a shared bathtub which served mothers and newborns. The 1912 Duluth News Tribune reported, “…the majority of cases which come under her care are those of women and girls who are financially unable to meet the greater expenses charged at larger institutions, that many of these come from districts where proper medical aid and care during illness cannot be secured.” At that time, the use of forceps in childbirth was prohibited by Minnesota law, so Halldóra invented and patented an alternative “obstetrical appliance”: a ribbon placed around the newborn's jaw, which allowed the midwife to assist delivery by gently pulling on the loops. Not all of her experiences were without controversy. On one occasion, Halldóra was arrested for failing to register a birth within the required five days. She had submitted it after fourteen and was subsequently jailed, released on bail, and fined, reportedly as part of an effort to make an example of her. Interestingly, for those who have read Laura Goodman Salverson’s book, Confessions of an Immigrant’s Daughter, you read a first-hand account of the travails experienced by Halldóra as witnessed by Laura. This author's autobiography emphasized the truth about Laura’s upbringing and her family’s plight while striving to create their new life in North America. Salverson also emphasizes, with consideration and circumspection, the rise of the women’s rights movement. This mention is in part due to the era when Laura was coming of age but also observing many female role models including her father’s sister, known to Laura as Aunt Halldóra, a well-known and revered midwife in Duluth. The Goodman family (the surname Guðmundsson changed during immigration) moved to Duluth at the behest of Halldóra claiming they would have a better chance of finding their way. Whether planned or not, Aunt Halldóra often became the family’s benefactor. She portrayed a contrasting disposition from that of Laura’s meek mother; they were two very different women. As for Halldóra’s brother, Laura's father, Lárus (or Lars), he had his own challenges meeting his expected role. He was a passionate thinker, wanting better things for his family. Alas, with his thoughts more akin to an explorer rather than a labourer, the family became somewhat nomadic, appeasing his wunderlust. Moreover, it was in Duluth where Laura observed Aunt Halldóra; she claimed her aunt wore her personality outwardly. Halldóra was her own unique self, with a heart full of compassion for those in need, ruled by her mind’s practicality. Of her aunt, Laura Goodman Salverson captures Halldóra’s character. From the book Confessions of an Immigrant’s Daughter: Presiding at her table, Aunt Halldóra seemed to me a figure out of a Viking legend: impersonal, cold, but sincerely concerned with the fate and fortunes of her ragged, impecunious guests...never in this world or any other world could I hope to attain the magnificent statue of my aunt, or clutch for my own sustainable self-esteem… Every gesture of her really beautiful, well-kept hands fascinated me. The curt way she spoke, which brooked no doubts nor opposition, was a revelation in forcefulness. Everything she did and everything she thought and everything she expressed in words was so firmly fixed in a sense of absolute perfection, according to her lights, that even the most foolish person realized the futility of opposition. That she was an autocrat in every sense of the word is certainly true - but the sort of autocrat who rigidly abides by, and at all costs maintains a moral code predestined for a certain cast by an all-wise deity. She was utterly sincere and utterly without vanity. Her person, like her house, was dedicated to service…Her whole life was centred in her profession, of which she was justly proud. And, unlike most married women who dabble in professionalism, she had the good sense to leave the details of housekeeping to others. That was not her business. Often enough she was cheated in the kitchen, where a wasteful cook might happen to rule at the moment. Well, what of that? Such people knew no better! That phrase, more than any other, sums up my aunt’s character. With all her heart she believed that ‘the lower order’ were as God had made them. How foolish, therefore, to expect any sort of perfection from the poor creatures…Conversely, she was critical and severe and alert for signs of shameful weakness in those who ought, in themselves and their behaviour, to be a credit to a decent family. After Laura's family had settled into a “hideous barn of a house” in the Duluth area, Aunt Halldóra continued sponsoring their welfare. The family’s resources were meagre and soon Laura’s father left for Winnipeg to earn a wage. Laura's mother received the wages with a sense of relief and cautious excitement. She vigilantly tucked them away, bit by bit, improving the family’s situation. Upon her father’s return to Duluth, Aunt Halldora remained an ardent supporter. Halldóra had a strong sense of community spirit. Salverson writes about their neighbours, a family that fell victim to a fire that destroyed their home and belongings, leaving the family safe, but only clad in their nightclothes. Halldóra sourced a home for the family, paid their first month’s rent, furniture, bedding, kitchen needs and clothing. The grocers and coal suppliers also supported her appeal. Halldóra also went so far as to facilitate the older daughter in attending business college without the expense of tuition or books. [Aunt Halldóra] was not the kind of woman to whom one offered excuses. The glance of her penetrating grey eyes, and the slightly scornful curl of her firm mouth, was much too disquieting. Moreover, even silly people recognized the absolute justice of her personal attitude. If she asked for anything it was because the thing had to be done, and the doing of it somehow acquired honour. Laura continued to learn about the strength and wisdom of her Aunt Halldóra. The challenges of childbirth in the late 1890s and early 1900s were prevalent. Laura writes about a night where, when delivering cream to the kitchen, the house appeared abandoned. Her thoughts were soon drawn to wails from an upper floor of the house. Meeting the cook on the stairs, tears in her eyes, and holding a newborn infant, the cook expressed “She pulled her through! She saved them both! Dear Lord, I never saw such a woman!” This last passage was where we learn Halldóra had used her creative version of forceps to assist with a difficult delivery. It was a small miracle. Halldóra spared no time for herself, but selflessly tended to the survival of her new mothers and their offspring. She raised an orphaned, infant twin girl to a young age, with the intent of adopting her. That is until two elderly spinster sisters learned of the girls heritage and decided they, as the girl's surviving family, would do best raising her. Reluctantly and with a broken heart, Halldóra relented to the aunts' request. From Laura Goodman Salverson's memoir, we learn that the expressions of duty and care portrays the eminence of Aunt Halldóra to Laura. Halldóra always cared for her family. Over the years, others in need benefited from Halldóra Gudmundsdottir and she became legendary in her own time. Her hospital home became the sanctuary for girls and women from across the State as well as from Ontario. Siblings:(L-R) Olina, Halldora, Anna, & Larus (Anna is half-sister). Photo sourced from Icelandic Roots Genealogy Database. Halldóra Guðmundsdóttir, midwife, inventor, loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, and grandmother, died at her son Oliver’s home on October 28, 1921. She was buried next to Siggier in Oneota Cemetery in Duluth. Editor’s Note: For those who may be interested, Icelandic Roots has a monthly Book Club meeting. The books are chosen as a story with an Icelandic connection or an Icelandic author. Often, we have the author as a special guest. This combination always results in very interesting discussions. Laura Goodman Salverson’s book Confessions of an Immigrant's Daughter was the featured book for the February 2026 Book Club. Check out the Icelandic Roots web page and the Event Calendar for future Book Club selections and dates. Resources and Additional Reading: Icelandic Roots Genealogy Database Icelandic Roots | Genealogy Ancestry Gordon C. Krantz Halldóra Guðmundsdóttir - Duluth Midwife Björg Einarsdóttir Ljósmæðratal, (Prentsmiðjan Oddi hf.), 18 Dec 2017, p. 242 Curtis Brown Star Tribune, Minnesota. 03 Jan 2015 Salverson, Laura Goodman. Confessions of an Immigrant’s Daughter, 1939. Faber and Faber Ltd., London, England

By Rob Olason On the April 20, 2026, Samtal Hour, participants learned the latest updates to the Icelandic Rootshús project from Sunna Furstenau, the visionary force behind this ambitious venture. Ambitious? Really? Most definitely. First, a little backstory. Icelandic Roots, the organization Furstenau championed for over a decade, began as a non-profit online Icelandic genealogy database on November 12, 2013. Building on the database nurtured for decades by Halfdan Helgason in Iceland, Icelandic Roots has focused on building an international community between Western Icelanders in Canada and the U.S. and Icelanders in Iceland. Icelandic Roots volunteers have been expanding on Halfdan's original database over the years, where today it has become the premier online Icelandic genealogy database with over 863,000 individual records of Icelandic “cousins” and nearly 66,000 photos and other media documents that “tell the story” of the Icelandic people in Iceland and North America. Today, over 80 volunteers spread across the three countries keep the organization running. The database volunteers add around 2,500 records each month. An offshoot of the genealogists created a special Emigration Team that has worked for thirteen years to find records documenting every person who left Iceland for North America. This project greatly expands on the work of Júníus H. Kristinsson in his monumental 1980s publication, Vesturfaraskrá 1870-1914. In 2026, the team began releasing periodic "Issue Papers" that drill down into that rich trove of data to reveal new insights into the Icelandic Diaspora. Sunna credits the team's research for being a huge catalyst in the determination to build Icelandic Rootshús. During the early years of Icelandic Roots, new features were continually added to the Icelandic Roots project. With a focus on the community Icelandic Roots was building, educational webinars explored Iceland and its people in both Iceland and North America. Informal online gatherings like Samtal Hour, hosted by Judy Dickson, began featuring interesting guests who make short presentations on an Icelandic topic, and then engage in conversation with the participants. These community activities continued to expand to include database usage training and even a monthly book club, hosted by Heather Lytwyn, that focuses on Icelandic works. Bi-weekly newsletters for members and non-members alike provide a steady stream of Icelandic-focused information to satisfy the wants of Icelandic descendants and the Icelandic-obsessed alike. But it wasn’t enough. Sunna told the viewers attending the April 20 Samtal Hour that she has been working on another "side" project for over eight years that would launch the Icelandic Roots vision beyond the online world into the real world. It’s not easy, or even a given, that dreams and visions can make the leap into reality. Many flights of fancy crash and burn before their first appearance. For Furstenau, there were many obstacles along the way. One big issue was where to site this physical representation of Icelandic Roots. After all, Icelandic settlers wandered far and wide in North America. Hundreds of communities could make the claim that they were the logical choice for a marker for the Icelandic diaspora. And now, several generations later, Icelandic descendants are everywhere. However, two areas were the key focus of Icelandic migration in the late nineteenth century: first, Nýja Ísland (New Iceland) in Manitoba, which was meant to be an Icelandic enclave. After some buyer’s remorse, a second location developed in 1878, when Reverend Páll Þorláksson led settlers to Dakota Territory, which became the focus of a mass exodus. As decades passed, this quest for the ideal home was followed by a later explosion as Icelandic settlers decided that the entire North American continent was theirs for the taking. Or, at least they could move freely about the continent. These were the pieces of settlement history and locations that Sunna began to work with. In Mountain, Dakota Territory, the Reverend Páll Þorláksson filed his own land claim. His original claim included the area that later became the site of the Vikur Icelandic Church (on the National Register of Historic Places), and much of the town of Mountain. The land across the street from the church was also a part of Reverend Þorláksson’s Homestead land claim. With its link to the history of Icelandic settlement in the area, this land is the site of the Icelandic Rootshús. Thanks to generous donations of property and additional purchases, the site for the Rootshús was secured. The dreaming continued. What would this Icelandic House contain? Over the years, Icelandic Roots had acquired donations of thousands of Icelandic books: genealogies, histories, and fiction. They need a home. The story of the Icelandic journeys to North America also needs a home. The descendants of those Icelandic settlers, trying to understand what that journey a century and a half ago means to their lives today, need a home to explore that aspect of their past. Sunna was quick to point out that every initiative Icelandic Roots undertakes is only possible because of the contributions of the 80+ volunteers across three countries, the thirteen years of patient genealogy work, the support of members, the online environment maintained by the IT team, the outreach community, and the donors, all of whom share the spotlight in making Icelandic Roots of today and Icelandic Rootshús of tomorrow. The Icelandic people find their roots in story as well as family. The story of their past, their lineage, their shared history. The passions that inspired their ancestors to dream and live their lives. Those stories were embedded in the Icelandic sagas. In the future, that story will be embedded in the Icelandic Rootshús. Sunna shared architect drawings of the building at Samtal Hour. She also shared images of heavy equipment being used to remove abandoned buildings on the property to make way for this new vision. A rendering of the RootsHús floorplan In the drawings she displayed, a key component of the building was a permanent exhibit that told the story of Icelandic migration to North America. This story was shared from the multi-generational perspective of a family: the life of hardship in Iceland caused by natural calamities of volcanic eruptions and weather extremes, but also by the grinding restrictions of the political and economic structures governing the population. This led to the risky opportunity of trading the seemingly unending difficulty of servitude in Iceland for an intoxicating but possibly unrealistic future in a new land. And once traded, they faced the difficult journey across the ocean, followed by the challenging journey to shape their new lives, and finally, the often less-than-promised results they encountered. This exhibit will tell the saga of those who exchanged a difficult life in Iceland for a different, yet still difficult life in North America. Throughout the writings of the settlement period, we hear again and again the refrain that these settlers made this sacrifice for the benefit of their future descendants' lives. This is a remarkable story that is a legacy for their descendants to contemplate. Icelandic Rootshús will be a perfect setting to engage in that contemplation. The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Icelandic Rootshús will take place during the 2026 Deuce of August celebrations in Mountain on August 1, 2026. The Grand Opening is scheduled for the next Deuce of August celebration, on July 31, 2027. On May 5, 2026, the Icelandic Roots Rootshús project received a $300,000 Destination Development grant from the North Dakota Department of Commerce to support the creation of the new Icelandic Rootshús heritage center with exhibits, genealogy research areas, a library, children’s space, and a coffee and gathering area, along with interior systems, furnishings, display cases, and signage. If you would like to help make Icelandic Rootshús a reality, you can read more about it here.

The dream of a permanent home for Icelandic heritage in northeastern North Dakota took a major step forward this week. The Icelandic Roots Rootshús project in Mountain has been awarded a $300,000 Destination Development Grant from the North Dakota Department of Commerce. The award was announced as part of a statewide $4 million investment in projects designed to strengthen tourism, cultural identity, and local economic development across North Dakota. Computer rendition of Rootshús According to the state announcement, the grant will support the creation of the new Icelandic Rootshús heritage center, including exhibits, genealogy research areas, a library, children’s space, coffee and gathering areas, furnishings, display systems, and signage. For supporters of Icelandic Roots, the grant marks an important milestone in a vision years in the making. Located in one of the largest historic Icelandic settlement regions in the United States, the Rootshús is designed to serve as both a cultural center and a gathering place. Plans for the facility include interactive exhibits on Icelandic immigration and settlement, genealogy resources for descendants tracing family histories, educational programming, and spaces where visitors can connect through language, stories, food, and community traditions. The project reflects the larger mission of Icelandic Roots: to preserve and share the history of Icelandic migration to North America while strengthening connections among descendants and friends of Icelandic culture. The name “Rootshús” combines the English word “Roots” with the Icelandic “hús,” meaning house. The result is fitting: a house of roots, memory, and connection. The grant also highlights the growing recognition that cultural heritage tourism can be a driver of rural development. In announcing the awards, North Dakota tourism officials emphasized that projects were selected for their ability to attract visitors, encourage longer stays, and showcase the authentic character of local communities. For the Icelandic communities of the northern Great Plains, the Rootshús represents something more personal as well. It creates a permanent space where future generations can encounter the stories of immigrants who crossed the Atlantic, settled the prairies, built churches and farms, preserved language and customs, and helped shape the region’s identity. The project also strengthens Mountain’s role as an important center of Icelandic-American heritage in North Dakota. Visitors exploring Icelandic history in the region will now have a dedicated hub for research, interpretation, genealogy, and community events. As work moves forward, supporters hope the Rootshús will become not only a destination for descendants of Icelandic immigrants, but also a welcoming place for anyone interested in Icelandic history, culture, genealogy, and the broader immigrant experience in North America. More information about the project can be found at the Icelandic Roots website. To donate visit here.

Are You Related? The Snorri West Program is pleased to announce three Icelanders who will be taking part in the 2026 trip to the “Pacific Corridor” of British Columbia, with an additional, optional week in Washington State. The trip to explore the lives of Western Icelanders, visit historic settlements and see how the Icelandic heritage is kept alive in North America will take place June 18 - July 16, 2026. Locations to be visited include Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo and Kelowna, British Columbia, followed by Seattle and parts of Northwest Washington. Of course, it is hoped the participants will meet some of their relatives, too! Additionally, joint activities will take place in Iceland with the North American Snorri participants both before and after the Snorri West trip. The three young men are also scheduled to make an appearance at the Þjóðrækknisfélag Íslendinga (ÞFÍ / INL Iceland) annual conference on September 13, 2026 at the Hotel Natura in Reykjavík. Are you related to these young men? Please let us know so we can arrange for them to meet or correspond with you! Contact us at SnorriWest@INLofNA.org. Rafn Ágúst Ragnarsson - Icelandic Roots I736833 (visiting British Columbia) Rafn Ágúst is 22 and from Seltjarnarnes, Iceland, a peninsula near Reykajvík. He attended Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík, graduating in 2022 in Archeology, and is currently studying at Háskóli Íslands (University of Iceland) in Reykjavík, in Linguistics, and at Iceland University of the Arts, Reykjavík, in Theater and Performance Making. Currently, Rafn Ágúst has worked as a journalist for the online newspaper Vísir and its radio station Bylgjan for just over two years. “I cover everything from foreign affairs, politics, human interest, arts and have travelled and written articles and interviews from the Faroe Islands, Denmark, Sweden and more places.” He enjoys languages, history, poetry and literature. “I want to work in media and the arts and write and produce plays, documentaries and educational content on the things I am most passionate about: Icelandic language and culture, history, languages and cultures of the world, religion, politics, philosophy etc. I have several years under my belt working as a journalist where I have made several long pieces on these subjects with long and extensive interviews, I have also produced news for radio. In a couple of years with all of this experience in journalism and bachelor's degrees in linguistics and the performing arts, and the connections and friends I've made, I want to start making more professional books/films/videos/productions/other.” “I have always been hugely interested in Vestur-Ísland and have tracked down and bought and read a lot of copies of different histories, family stories and linguistic descriptions of the Icelanders that went west and their descendants. I even managed to combine all of them in a short story I wrote that will be published in the literary magazine Leirburður next spring, which is the magazine of the Icelandic literature department at the University of Iceland. I also love sewing and making clothes, especially traditional ones, politics and foreign affairs and journalism generally.” Rafn Ágúst speaks both native Icelandic and advanced English, Danish and Spanish, as well intermediate level Faroese, Swedish, Latin, Norwegian and is a beginner in Greenlandic and Haitian Creole! He has visited Washington, D.C and Florida with his family. Jón Jakob Jónsson - Icelandic Roots I112857 (visiting British Columbia and Washington) 29-year-old Jón Jakob was raised in Reykjavík 102, graduated with a degree in Natural Sciences from Kvennaskólinn í Reykjavík in 2015, and completed three years of a Bachelor's degree at Háskóli Íslands. “I took part in the Young Social Democrats movement in Iceland, helped with voter rallies and call centers, served as a spare in the board for 2 years in 2018 and 2019, served as a Youth Delegate in the European Youth Delegate program in 2021 run by the Council of Europe [which] involves learning about the democratic process of the Council of Europe. I spoke at the summit of the heads of state of Europe in Iceland in 2023 [as seen in this clip]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhGUww5TjDo. "I'm a judge at the Nexus game store, where I help run card game tournaments for Star Wars Unlimited.” Jón Jakob is currently a Team Leader at Bakkinn Vöruhótel, a company that specializes in warehousing, packaging, labeling, handling, and distribution of products. “My interests include history, political science, fantasy literature, video games, and board gaming.” His language capabilities include speaking native Icelandic, advanced English, and beginning German." In addition to being born in North America, he has also visited Florida and Minnesota with family members. “Long term goals include successfully running a real-estate business and finishing my Bachelor degree. I've already gotten together with a group of investors to start our own business in which I sit on the board of directors. We're currently raising capital and have already acquired our first property. As to my education, it's been put on hold until I can stabilize my life enough to fully devote myself to finishing my education.” “I was born in America and I've always been interested in visiting and exploring the country of my birth. The people of North America are famed for their openness and hospitality, and the ties that bind us with our shared history are something I want to explore. I'm hoping to broaden my horizons and develop relationships with different kinds of people, as well as explore and gain an appreciation for different cultures and environments.” Gunnar Freyr Ragnarsson - Icelandic Roots I773881 (visiting British Columbia) Gunnar Freyr has lived in Reykjavík most of his 25 years. He graduated from Borgarholtsskóli, Reykjavík, in 2020 and went on to study creative technology at the Icelandic Film School, Reykjavík, graduating in 2022. He is currently studying at The School of Photography in Reykajvík and will graduate in 2026. He has been employed at Borgarsögusan Reykjavíkur, including preparing photographs for the exhibition Half a Century Through the Lens with works by Gunnar V. Andrésson, which was later published in the book Spegill þjóðar, nominated for the Icelandic Literature Prize. He has also worked at Hitt Húsið as both a photographer and a filmmaker. “[My] future goals over the next five years, I plan to continue my education by completing a BA in Italian and Creative Writing at the University of Iceland, followed by an MA in Fine Art at the Iceland University of the Arts. Alongside my studies, I aim to further develop my artistic practice and professional skills. My long-term goal is to work as a photographer. To achieve this, I will focus on building a strong portfolio, participating in exhibitions and projects, and gaining practical experience within the field while completing my academic training.” His hobbies and interests include photography, reading, guitar, hiking, swimming, and running. He has taken a Dale Carnegie Course focused on communication,leadership, and personal development; guitar courses to develop musical skills, consistency, and performance; a creative writing workshop to improve storytelling and literary skills; and has hiked independently and guided others, developing leadership, navigation, and teamwork skills over multiple years. Gunnar Freyr has not been to North America but speaks his native Icelandic, advanced English and intermediate Italian. “My expectations for visiting North America through the Snorri West Program are travel, cultural exchange, and personal growth. I am eager to experience a new culture, meet people with different backgrounds, and gain perspectives that are different from my own. By immersing myself in everyday life, traditions, and social environments, I hope to develop a deeper understanding of North American society and its connection to Icelandic heritage. I see this experience as an opportunity to challenge myself. Traveling and adapting to new surroundings will help me grow both personally and professionally. Meeting new people and building international connections is especially important to me, as I believe meaningful conversations and shared experiences are one of the best ways to learn. Participating in the Snorri West Program will also support my future educational and professional goals. As someone pursuing studies in the arts and humanities, exposure to new cultures and environments is essential. The experiences I gain from observing cultural differences to engaging with communities will influence my creative work and academic development. Overall, I hope to return with new insights, inspiration, and a stronger sense of independence that will benefit me in my future studies and career.” The Snorri West Program is available to Icelanders ages 20 to 30 years of age and is organized and operated by volunteers of the Icelandic National League of North America (INLNA) in partnership with the Icelandic National League of the United States (INLUS), and with the cooperation with the Snorri Foundation in Iceland. Like its sister programs, Snorri and Snorri Plus, the primary purpose of Snorri West is to strengthen the bonds between the people of Iceland and the people of Icelandic descent in North America. We rely heavily on Icelandic Roots to identify, locate relatives of the participants, and assist with genealogy research, support, and information, the Snorri West participants receive three months of access to the Icelandic Roots’ database to assist in exploring their family relationships. In Iceland, Þjóðræknisfélag Íslendinga (INL Iceland) is also an important partner, including supplying participant grants. We are deeply grateful for the contributions of the many partners, families, and friends who make this program possible.

By Shaune Jonasson Keeping with the 2026 theme of settlements in North America, we close April with offering you a driving tour to the Icelandic sites in Nova Scotia. The communities settled were short-lived; however, some families did remain. Their descendants have lived there since the 1880s. With a keen interest in the history of the Icelandic communities, a group of dedicated individuals created The Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia, which was incorporated on July 29, 1998. Icelanders who first arrived in Nova Scotia came from the failed settlement in Kinmount, Ontario, or they arrived by ship from Iceland at the Port of Nova Scotia. Their beginnings were similar; they left hardship behind and brought few belongings. Banding together, they became the community of Markland. A few years later, some of them moved further south to the already established village of Lockeport. Image sourced from Timarit.is on 14 Apr 2026. It is from Destination: Nova Scotia, an article published in Lögberg-Heimskringla 21 May 2004. PORT OF HALIFAX Halifax harbour has always been a seaport for cargo, livestock and people with its large, deep and sheltered harbour that is ice-free. In the very early years, the rail line to the remainder of Canada was not yet established, which made it difficult for passengers or cargo heading west. There was river access to inland Nova Scotia; however, those travelling further west had to do so with carts or on foot. Pier 2 in the earlier years. Image sourced from Parks Canada on 14 Apr 2026. Copyright Parks Canada, Ian Doull, 1996. The Port of Halifax evolved and grew over the years. By 1928, Pier 21 was the first point of entry for those disembarking ships, but operations closed in 1971. The building remains as the last of the ocean immigration shed. In 2011, the Canadian government established it as the Canadian Museum of Immigration. Pier 21 today. Image sourced from Parks Canada on 14 Apr 2026. Copyright Pier 21, Jennyrotten, 2010. The Pier 21 exhibitions illustrate the immigration process of those arriving in Canada from 1867 to the present. These interactive displays have period actors to enhance the experience. As the national museum, there are numerous resources to access your ancestral family story upon arrival in Canada. It is well worth the time to visit Pier 21. MARKLAND Cairn and dedication plaque to the Icelandic settlers in Markland, NS. Image sourced: The Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia website. 14 Apr 2026. Markland is located a bit west and north of Halifax, between the areas of the Caribou Gold Mines and Moose River Gold Mines. The travel time from Halifax to the area depends on the route selected. Driving by car can be expected to take between 1 and 1 ½ hours to reach the area. Upon arrival in Markland, visitors are welcomed by the cairn standing proudly under the flags of Canada, Iceland and Nova Scotia. The plaque dedicates this area to the memory of the settlers. The capstone from Iceland rests upon the base of stacked rocks, each one coming from the foundations of the settlers’ cabins. Visitors are welcome to follow the map showing a pathway through the settlement. Between 1875 and 1882, there were 30 cabins built for the settlers, of which 28 have been located. Interactive signage is seen along the route, distinguishing the significance of the properties. Log Cabin replica from the Icelandic settlement of Markland, NS. Located at 380 Caribou Rd, Longlake, NS. Image sourced: The Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia website. 14 Apr 2026 A replica log cabin has been constructed that honours the settlers. Open year-round, it serves as an interpretive centre regarding the life of the settlers. This log cabin’s construction, built with historical accuracy, was overseen by The Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia. The dedication ceremony for the log cabin took place in 2014. The Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia annually organizes the Markland International Trails Day Walk through the Markland settlement. For 2026, it will be held on 6 June. Pack a lunch and your walking shoes for the 8 km hike. More details will be posted on the Society's website under Society Events. Markland is located between Moose River Gold Mine (1) and Caribou Gold Mine (2). Bookending Markland are the two gold mines where many of the settlers worked. Caribou Gold Mine (2 on the map) is to the east of Markland, on the eastern coast of Nova Scotia. Moose River Gold Mine (1 on the map) is just to the west of Markland. Here the visitor will also find the Moose River Gold Mines Provincial Park where they will be introduced to mining for gold and its history. LOCKEPORT The coastal town of Lockeport was already established before the Icelanders arrived. Its is on the eastern shore, approximately 200 km south of Halifax. Being on the ocean and a fishing community, it had a great appeal to the Icelandic settlers who arrived. The Icelanders, who landed between 1878 and 1880, settled 5km east of the present town of Lockeport, near an area called East Green Harbour. Their stay was short, as most families left the area by 1883. Cairn and dedication to the Icelandic settlers in Lockeport, NS. Image sourced: The Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia website. 14 Apr 2026. Here, visitors are welcomed with a memorial cairn dedicated to the Icelandic settlers. The Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia, in partnership with the Republic of Iceland, erected this cairn located on the property owned by Harold Hoskuldsson. The tablet situation at the base of the cairn is Atlantic Mist Granite found in Nova Scotia. The top tablet of the cairn is a light grey stone (grásteinn eftir samko- mulogi) from Iceland. A verse on the cairn in English, French, or Icelandic reads: “The land to which my work is dedicated is where my children’s cradle stands. ” House where Lewis Huskilson lived in Lockeport. Image sourced: The Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia website. 14 Apr 2026 The Hoskuldsson family, who changed their family name to Huskilson, remained in the community after most others left. Descendants continue to live there, where many generations have been active community members. In honour and memory of Lewis Huskilson (1911 - August 10, 2000) the Society has placed an historical sign. Visitors are welcome to take a walking tour of the area to view the many houses of Icelandic families that have been preserved. RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Icelandic Roots Database The Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia We would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Society and recommend learning more about the Icelandic communities of Markland and Lockeport by visiting their informative website and their Facebook page. The Icelandic Memorial Society of Nova Scotia: https://novascotiaicelanders.ca/ Markland: https://novascotiaicelanders.ca/settlement.cfm?s=1 Lockeport : https://novascotiaicelanders.ca/settlement.cfm?s=2 The Town of Lockeport https://www.lockeport.ns.ca/ CBC News: Nova Scotians with Icelandic roots hold tight to their legacy Halifax: Pier 21 Canadian Museum of Immigration Arriving at Halifax Before Pier 21 How to Discover Your Family's Immigration History Parks Canada Pier 21 National Historical Site