Markerville
 The Icelandic community at Markerville was built around the same
kinds of interests and goals that had been fostered in Iceland. Their
dedication to literature and learning distinguished the settlers at
Markerville from many of their neighbours.
Accordingly,
rural schools were among the first community institutions to be established in
Markerville, and functioned not only in an educational capacity, but
as centres for social gatherings. The Icelandic Ladies' Aid was established in 1891 in Calgary, serving as a
support for the wives of men building homes for them in at the new settlement
site. A
Lutheran congregation was in existence from 1900, but lack of funds and
divided religious opinion meant that the community's first minister was
dismissed in 1909. Eventually, the church building was used only for
special occasion or on religious holidays.
Poet and influential community member Stephan G. Stephansson had established an Icelandic
Cultural Society in North Dakota, which supported liberal philosophies of
religion and the arts, and focused on the search for knowledge as the primary
means to a satisfying existence. In 1892, the settlers at Markerville
formed a literary society called Ithunn, 16 years before they opened a
church. In fact, unlike most other pioneer institutions of its kind,
Markerville's church was not at the center of community life. Instead, as they had done in
Iceland, settlers came together after a hard day's work to discuss political or
religious topics, and to share a passion for literature. On Mondays, settlers
would bring milk to their creamery and borrow books from their library. It was tradition for Icelandic families to gather together around
the stove, and while the men read aloud, the women would spin or knit wool that the
children had carded.
The most important social event in Markerville occurred once a year: on August 2, an Icelandic National holiday was celebrated
with a town picnic, to which would come families from miles around.
Between 1900 and 1914, however, immigration from the United States and the
rest of Scandinavia meant the proportion of people of Icelandic descent in
Markerville slowly declined. The building of roads and bridges
ensured that communication with the outside world increased. Farming
became a more commercial enterprise, and farmers from all around the area were
served by the Markerville creamery. Although all of this had its economic
and social benefits, it also meant that distinctive Icelandic language and
cultural practices suffered.
The CKUAHeritage Trails:
To listen to the Heritage Trails , you need the RealPlayer,
available free from RealNetworks:
- Markerville Creamery- The Markerville Creamery was an initiative
set up by Mr. C.P. Marker in 1902. Hear Dorothy Field explain the history of
this historic site.
Read
| Listen
- Stephansson House: Part One - Stephan Guthmundarson Stephansson was
a famous Icelandic poet before he came to Markerville, Alberta. Hear about
Stephansson and his little farmhouse near Red Deer.
Read | Listen
- Stephansson House: Part Two - The Stephansson farmhouse, at
Markerville, Alberta, grew with the Stephansson family, room by room.
Stephansson House is now a historic site.
Read | Listen
- Stephansson House: Part Three - Listen to the history of
Stephansson House's unique architectural details, from its brilliant colours
to its eight lightning rods!
Read | Listen
- Stephansson House: Part Four - Stephan G. Stephansson has been
called the Shakespeare of Iceland. Hear some of Stephansson's poems, and
learn about the man himself.
Read | Listen
See also:
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