Framnes, Riverton, Hnausa photographs - still needing information.
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-by Einar Vigfusson, September 6, 2006 As soon as I saw this picture in Lögberg-Heimskringla I recognized it, as it was always in our picture box here at home. My father Jóhann grew up in the area known as “Framnes” along the Icelandic River, about three miles west and a little north of Arborg. Most of the people in the photo are relatives and friends. The picture is taken at the Framnes park near the Framnes Hall. The bridge in the background is on the upper reaches of the Icelandic River. The plays put on by the Framnes people were not to my knowledge ever taken out of the district as there were acting groups in both Arborg and Geysir and they seldom encroached on each other, although once in a while they were done in Arborg. The buildings on the right hand side of the picture are on a farm across the river owned at that time by Kristján and Friðrikka Magnússon (not related to Guðmundur Magnússon). On the left hand side of the picture you can see trees on the other side of the bridge. This is Fljótshlíð, the original home of Einar Stefánson and Lovísa Benediktsdóttir, the parents of Ástríður, Pálína and Jóhanna (my grandmother). The director (furthest to the left in the photo) is Guðmundur Magnússon, a well known figure in the Framnes District. He was the Postmaster of Framnes from 1922 till 1933. A well-read man and poet in his own right, he prepared children for confirmation, taught Sunday school and performed church services in the absence of ministers among other things. Guðmundur was a carpenter by trade. He was related to the Icelandic poetess Vatnsenda Rósa. I will now list the cast of the play – Left to Right: 1. Jóhann Vigfusson grew up in the Framnes district and later was a fisherman on Lake Winnipeg along with his brothers Einar and Bergur. He married Emily Jónsson and they farmed at Arborg where they raised their family of four sons. Before I put this infomation together, I checked with Gúra Hornfjörð at Arborg. She could not remember the name of the play but recalled helping her mother make the beards (some from wool and the dark colored ones were from horsehair) seen in the picture. Her mother Sella (Sessalja) was in the play and her father Guðmundur painted the backdrops for it. This play was probably performed between the years 1927–29. I also discussed this with Walter Sopher of Edmonton Alta. who lived with the Hornfjörðs when he was young. As far as I know, the group did not have a specific name. I have no idea who the photographer may have been. Here are some of the plays performed in Framnes over the years. There probably were many more. 1. Dóttir Fangans.......... The Prisoners Daughter Note: I did
treat the people in the photo as being in one row when
identifying them. The farms in that particular area were not
named, as was the custom in the New Iceland area. Framnes
was not in the original New Iceland area and was not settled
till after 1900. |
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Photo 2. Date circa 1925. Robert Asgeirsson (rja) - [IABC] notes: This photo might be of a performing group, a local choir or a graduating class photo. Notice the ribbons on the chests of the men. I believe that ribbons were common ways to show that people had paid their admission to a park for an Icelandic Celebration. Ribbons were also issued to indicate Íslendingadagurinn Committee members. On magnification of the original photo, there is a larger ribbon seen on the sleeve of the man seated in the middle row. That ribbon reads "NEFNDIN". Most of the women in this photo however do not seem to have ribbons.
Information
from: Where there
are identifications that differ, both are given with
initials in brackets of the person(s) making the
identification. Spelling of the names may contain errors.
Please advise us if you spot these errors. Brian Tomasson
(bt) says that the people he recognizes in this photograph
shared a common interest in music, either in band or choirs
and that they were all from Riverton. 1st Jon Eirikson (bt) Sitting Left to Right: 1st Unknown Margret
Bjornson observed: This Riverton choir picture was taken
in the early Riverton Park where they held some Icelandic
Celebrations. It's called the "Ball Park" now. When they
were first having the Icelandic Celebrations, they had them
at Gutti's - the Icelandic poet. Then they held a few in the
downtown of Riverton. After that some of the town's people
talked Marinu Briem into giving over some land for a park
for the Celebration. They cleared thick bush to make an open
area for the park as seen in the picture. |
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Photo 3. Date: 1925. This photograph shows Ingibjorg Lilja Halldorson (m. Asgeirsson) on the left and Stefania Sigurdsson (m. Prescott) as a Fjallkona. The young lady on the right is unknown. This photograph was taken at the Hnausa Icelandic Celebration, some 8 miles from Riverton, MB. Notice the bleecher seating in the background. Was this event held at a Fair Ground. Photo 4 is a variation of photo 3. David Gislason notes: "In the recent book "Hnausa Reflections" there are several excellent articles, one by Sigurros Pallsson and one by Nelson Gerrard, taken from his book, "Icelandic River Saga". Both are very interesting and give a good history of the Hnausa Icelandic Festival, from 1894 to1954. One article states that the festival was held in various locations near Hnausa, occasionally in Riverton (8 miles from Hnausa) and even Geysir. The Festival committee included people from Arborg, Geysir, Riverton and Hnausa. The 1925 festival was held at Hnausa and the fjallkona is listed as having been Stefania Sigurdsson Prescott." . |
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Photo 4. Date: 1925 - This photograph shows Ingibjorg Lilja Halldorson (m. Asgeirsson) on the left and Stefania Sigurdsson (m. Prescott) as the Fjallkona. The young lady on the right is unknown. This photograph (like #3) was taken at Hnausa, MB during a local Icelandic celebration. Notice what appears to be bridge pilings and buildings in the background. Notice the A-frame structure. Is it a church? Was this event held at a Fair Ground / Park with established bleecher seating.
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