Category: Stephansson House

Guꝺmundur Stefánsson, Stephan and Helga’s second son, passed away on this day in 1947. We know he was a pretty active and entrepreneurial sort, and one of the lasting impacts he had on the Stephansson home was his work expanding the house. By the time of his late teens/ early adulthood, Guꝺmundur had become “a handy carpenter” and he assisted his father with additions to the house – raising the roof above the front bedroom, kitchen and pantry as well as adding a bay window.

If you have any photos or other records of Guꝺmundur, please consider donating them.

Portrait of Gudmundur Stephansson c. 1902, PAA PH75.28.23. “Stephansson house at Markerville, Alberta, and Stephansson family”, 1907 courtesy Glenbow Archives NA-270-3.

Posted on Stephansson House Provincial Historic Site Facebook Page

On either February 26th or 27th of 1919, the Alberta Dairymen’s Association was formed.

The Markerville Creamery, which had been operating since 1902, was a significant player in the dairy industry, and Dan Morkeberg was responsible for its success.

“Recognizing that an association, composed of all interests working together, could accomplish much towards the advancement of an industry well adapted to Alberta, steps were taken at a meeting of creamery operators, held in St. Luke’s Hall, Red Deer, September 9, 1918, to form an association. This meeting had been called by the Department of Agriculture, to consider the market situation and the problems facing creamerymen at that time. On the motion of W. W. Prevey, seconded by P. Pallesen, a committee was appointed to draw up a constitution and by-laws for the proposed association and to report at a future meeting. This committee was composed of the following: W. W. Prevey, E. G. Archibald, P. Pallesen, C. P. Marker, and E. T. Love, Secretary. The committee held several meetings. Its report was submitted to, and approved by, the Provincial Dairy Convention held at the Palliser Hotel, Calgary, February 26 and 27, 1919. The membership list was opened, and the first general meeting of the Association was held at the concluding session of the Convention. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Dr. T. E. Hays, Carstairs; D. Morkeberg, M.L.A., Markerville; E. T. Love, Edmonton; G. E. Cahoon, Cardston; J. W. Carlyle, Calgary; P. Pallesen, Calgary, and W. W. Prevey, Edmonton. At the Directors’ Meeting held immediately after, D. Morkeberg was elected President and E. T. Love Secretary-Treasurer of the Association.” 

(from The Alberta Dairymen’s Association: Coming of age, 1940 (Looking Backward and Forward), p. 7.) Posted onStephansson House Provincial Historic Site Facebook Page

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Stephan and Helga had an enduring friendship – having known each other since he was 15 and she was 12 – and they loved each other deeply. Stephan’s poetry was not overly romantic, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t write poems for Helga (both before and after they were married).

“In 1930, three years after her husband’s death, Helga was approached by an Icelandic magazine, Saga, regarding any personal verses that Stephansson might have composed solely for her eyes. After some hesitation, she consented. A handful of poems that her husband had written to her in their youth and that she had saved was published for the first time. The Icelandic community was curious. After all, Stephansson was known as a cerebral poet not given to flights of romantic ardour. Yet, the poems while not displaying the characteristics of his later works revealed a young man passionate for the young woman with whom he had fallen in love. The publication of the poems gave a glimpse into another facet of this complicated skald. Just as importantly, they brought attention to Stephansson’s wife and soul mate, Helga Jónsdóttir.” (from Poet of the Rocky Mountains, p. 94)

You can read them here in Saga: Missirisrit Vol. 6, No. 2 Sep-Feb 1930-31.

Posted on Stephansson House Provincial Historic Site Facebook Page

Central Alberta Branch

Thirty years ago the Central Alberta branch of the Historical Society of Alberta was formed.

Formalized on January 26, 1995 at the Red Deer and District Museum and Archives, they celebrate the history of central Alberta stretching from Ponoka to the north, Olds to the south, and the provincial boundaries to the east and west.

Over the years they have hosted speakers’ series on subjects of local and provincial interest, promoted and published historical works, and developed educational and programming activities related to Alberta history.

Some of those publications include Aspenland 1998: Local Knowledge and a Sense of Place, Aspenland II: On Women’s Lives and Work in Central Alberta, and Settlement Tales of West Central Alberta: The Markerville Story – all of which have some connection to Stephansson House and Markerville.

Copies available in the Stephansson House gift shop!

Reposted from Stephansson House Provincial Historic Site Facebook Page