Historic Markerville
114 Creamery Way T0M 1M0 Markerville

Flashback Friday! Today we take a look at Halla Budvarson. A special lady! At age 33, Halla Arngrímsdóttir came from Iceland to the Pine Hill District in 1905 with her husband Jon Budvarson. They purchased a homestead and raised sheep and cattle. Halla spun and knit the wool, singing "What a Friend We Have In Jesus" through her daily labour.... It troubled Halla Budvarson that someone might leave her home hungry or empty-handed. She shared what she had, offering rounds of kaffi (coffee) and pönnukökur to those at her table. In the evenings, Halla gathered her ten children to read Icelandic books. The maternal tongue would not be forgotten no matter the distance from her island birthplace. Often homesick for the people and salt air of Iceland, Halla never returned there. She died at the age of 94 years in 1966. Her funeral, one of the largest in the community’s memory, testified to her hospitality and gift of her life’s gladness. #womenofimpact #womanpower

Flashback Friday! Today we visit the story of Hughretta Flake. A devoted mother & grandmother! Hughretta Inez McCrow came from the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon to the farm west of Markerville, Alberta shortly after her marriage to George Washington Flake on October 24, 1905. With the influence of a strong Scottish lineage and a large family of some means, she studied piano forte, took much schooling, learned several varieties of needlework and perfected the skills of... the lady of the house. These skills served her well as a pioneer wife and mother of three sons. Hughretta and George followed their dream, while Hughretta, like the prairie rose, displayed a hardy and determined beauty in a harsh and often severe environment. Hughretta was instrumental in organizing the Bethel Union Church of Yankee Flats and was a charter member and president of the Ladies Aid for years. If a mid-wife was needed, or someone to lay out a body, Mrs. Flake was there. Her love of needlework and crocheting produced countless gifts for people in the community. The table was always graced with a beautiful cloth and fine china whenever company arrived. Mrs. Flake was a gracious hostess and a grand and kind lady loved by all her neighbours and friends. #womenofimpact #womanpower

Flashback Friday! This week we share the story of the Stephansson matriarch, Helga Stephansson. Born in Iceland in 1859, Helga moved with her parents, Jón and Sigurbjörg Jónsson, to a Norwegian Settlement in Wisconsin in 1873. Here she worked as a maid from age fourteen to nineteen before marrying her childhood sweetheart, Stephan G. Stephansson. Later the Jónsson and Stephansson families moved to North Dakota. Then, in 1889, Helga left her birth family and immigrated with th...e extended Stephansson family to the newly established Icelandic community of Tindastoll, North West Territories (now Markerville, Alberta). Helga was an active member of the Ladies’ Aid in the USA and a founding member of Vonin (the Icelandic Ladies’ Aid) in Alberta. She developed her own home industry: raised her own flock of sheep, washed the wool in the Medicine River, carded and spun the wool and, by using a store-bought knitting machine, she mass produced woolen mitts and socks which she sold to supplement the farm income. Helga also shared her home with her mother-in-law, Guðbjörg Stephansson, and provided compassionate care in the matriarch’s final days. A good mother and wife, Helga served as an excellent role model for her three daughters: Rosa and the twins, Stephany (Fanny) and Jona (Jenny). Helga’s husband loved her dearly, saying, Her smile in particular was all that triumph depended on, that kept everything afloat. Two of Helga’s eight children died tragically, yet she remained cheerful as she cared for her remaining six, cooked, sewed, harvested a large garden and raised livestock. She enjoyed music, had a pleasant voice and hummed while she worked. An early riser, Helga served her husband coffee in bed in the morning and brought him coffee when he was writing poetry late at night. #womenofimpact #womanpower See more

Flashback Friday! This week is a friend to us all & an important community builder, Janet Lutz. A lady with a million smiles, Janet Lutz came to live in the Markerville district in April of 1980. Since then she has delighted the community with her twinkling brown eyes, spontaneous hugs and acts of loving kindness. Janet was born March 30, 1954 in Edmonton, the eldest of Elizabeth and Gordon Mitchell’s three children. She began taking piano and voice lessons at an early age an...d developed a passion for music. From that time on, sharing her musical talents became an ongoing source of pleasure for herself and others On completing high school, Janet spent a year at Calgary’s Baptist Leadership Training School, a life-altering experience which cemented her Christian faith. Next, she attended the University of Manitoba where she received a combined degree: Bachelor of Music in Education. Here she met Saskatchewan-born Terry Lutz, an ordained Lutheran pastor who was working on his education degree. The young couple were married July 9, 1977 and lived in Virden, Manitoba until Terry became the pastor at Christ Lutheran Church at Craig. During the past twenty years, Janet has inspired audiences by singing solo and in choral groups; directing bands and musicals. From 1993 to 2005, she was the musical director of the extremely popular Easter pageant, King of Kings. Among Janet’s other missions are Evangelism Team, Craig Worship Band, Youth Band, Ra-Mor Carol Singers, Stephen Ministries Outreach, Greif Share, WOW (a women’s social group) and Kid’s Club. To quote Janet Serving others is what I do best. A supportive pastor’s wife and loving mother of four, Janet retained her individuality by bringing the message of Christ to other in her own unique way. Being truly committed to youth, she has mentored young people’s groups and youth bands while teaching in local schools and Red Deer College. In 1993 she won the Excellence in Teaching Award followed by the Prime Minister’s Award in 2001 for her diligent work as a teacher. #womenofimpact #womenpower See more

Let's start 2021 with the story of Dora Thorlakson. An amazing woman! Born August 22, 1895 at Bjork in Sandvíkurhreppur Iceland, Haldora (Dora) Thorlakson came to Canada after her mother’s death in 1901. Travelling (without family) by ocean liner and train, the six-year-old arrived in Manitoba where she met her foster parents on route to Alberta. Dora grew up as a farm girl and in 1913 married Bjorn Thorlakson, the first male Icelander born in Markerville to parents who settl...ed here in 1888. The Thorlakson family farmed north of Markerville. Dora tended chores both indoors and out while nurturing her ten children. She built her own kitchen table, was a superb cook and prepared sheep’s wool by washing it in the river, carding and spinning it into yarn, then knitting the yarn into mitts and socks for her growing family. In the dirty thirties, she supplemented the farm’s meager income by selling handmade woolens and quilts. She also tatted, crocheted, embroidered and was a competent seamstress, making perfect fitting garments without the use of a pattern. Devastated by the death of her third child, Dora resolved to put her family first. Her twenty-six grandchildren were especially important to her and all were recipients of Dora’s deep love and understanding. Handmade toys, story-telling, heart-to-heart talks, drinking coffee from a saucer, Icelandic songs and laughter these memories and many, many more live on in the hearts of her grandchildren. #womenofimpact #womanpower

Our Wine Survivor Raffle team winners are: 4th Place - Hakuna Mascato - 25 bottles of wine 3rd Place - Got Milk! - 70 bottles of wine 2nd Place - Unrepentant Wine Quaffers - 140 bottles of wine... And 1st Place - Bad & Boozy - 235 bottles of wine Congratulations to the winners & thank you to all who supported us. Proceeds of $9400 will benefit the restoration of the Buttermaker's House! The first team eliminated, Win-no-vid, received 5 bottles of wine Watch for the next Wine Survivor raffle! We had so much fun with this one, we have to do another one!

How exciting...follow the Buttermaker's House Restoration Facebook page. There are good things happening in these challenging times...

Flashback Friday! This week, our Women of Aspenland series pays tribute to Ellen Lilyan (Lily) Johannson. A life-time resident of the Markerville area, Lily was a loving farmwife, mother and grandmother. She was a good friend to her neighbours who remember her as being an excellent hostess, a person who accepted everyone without criticism, a person who relished in a good game of cards and delighted in ‘dressing-up’ at Halloween. Being of Icelandic descent, Lily was bilingual ...and knowledgeable about the culture and geography of Iceland. She traveled to Iceland as well as various countries. Yet, first and foremost she was a Canadian, expressing her patriotism by voting in each election and faithfully supporting community functions. Concerned for young people, she was a dedicated 4-H leader and parent who drove carloads of teenagers to a multitude of events. An excellent seamstress, Lily made her own wedding gown. Later, she was to sew and knit for her whole family and gave homemade pajamas, sweaters, mittens and baking to needy neighbours and organizations. Three regular beneficiaries were the Bethany Home, the Camrose Orphanage and Vonin.

Thank you for your support!! All the cookies have been sold! Amazing! Thank you to our wonderful cookie bakers & the Cookie Walk committee & volunteers!

Flashback Friday!! Let's begin a series focusing on our Women of Aspenland. These are special ladies who made a difference in our community. Our first is Phyllis Johannson. In May of 1909, a four-year-old girl stood on the deck of the Lake Erie, sailing away from her Bedfordshire birthplace. As the coastline receded, she faced into the wind with her brunette hair and pinafore blowing in the breeze. Phyllis Wade was on her way to Canada, where her father, like the others, had... heard the streets were paved with gold. As a young woman, Phyllis became a well-loved teacher in the Innisfail-Markerville area. In 1929 she married Albert Johannson, a farmer of Icelandic descent. As a devoted wife and mother, she faced the ‘Dirty Thirties’ with a cheerfulness that helped her family through the dark times. Phyllis served as a church pianist for fifty years. She taught school until 1967 and was honoured with a life membership to the Alberta Teachers’ Association. I know we have descendants of Phyllis & Albert on our page, do you have a story to share with us?? #womenofimpact #influentialwomen See more

Are you ready? The Wine Survivor Raffle starts tomorrow! Before we begin, we'd like to send our thanks to Emma at Spruce View Co-op Liquor Store https://www.facebook.com/centralabcoopliquor & Mike & Brett at Penhold Liquor Store https://www.facebook.com/penholdliquorstore for their contributions to our 94 team raffle. All proceeds will benefit the Buttermaker's House Restoration. https://www.facebook.com/buttermakershouse1913 Good luck & may the best team win!

Flashback Friday! We won't go that far back for this one. These photos were taken in 2016. Our current Christmas in Markerville is offering the Cookie Walk only. Fingers crossed, next year we will be back to offering a full market! #flashbackfriday #christmascookies #santaselves

We will remember

Let's join in & light up Markerville!

Flashback Friday! We continue to look at our Women of Aspenland. Marion Morkeberg seemed to have been quite a character! A nurse by training, Marion Miles came to Markerville in 1930 after her marriage to Carl Morkeberg. She raised four children and assisted in the family’s creamery. Her gifts to her neighbours included butter, cream and eggs. From delivering babies to treating bee stings and comforting the dying, she exuded care and friendship. Marion quite often quipped th...at Things are never so bad they can’t get worse and You have to learn to save yourself. She belonged to the Good Neighbour’s Club and the Eastern Star. She liked to play poker. Marion danced the Charleston in the Markerville Hall, the first to do so. An able writer and speech maker, she told a gathering at the Markerville Hall, I can honestly say I love each and every one of you in this room, and if you don’t love me in return that’s your problem. #womenofimpact #womanempowerment See more