In 1943, Almanak in Winnipeg published a brief article by Margrét Jónsdóttir, better known as Margrét J. Benedictsson. The article was part of the Almanak´s History of Icelandic settlements in North America. Below is a translation from the book ICELANDERS on the Pacific Coast published by The Icelandic Club of Greater Seattle in 2004. The translators were Baird Bardarson, Theodore R. Beck, Arna Garðarsdóttir, Willard Larson, Arni Magnusson and Sverrir H. Magnusson.
Marietta
“Marietta is a small town to the north of Bellingham Bay, and right across from Bellingham in Washington’s Whatcom Country. The town itself lies low in the elbow where the Nooksack River falls into the bay. To the east, the land rises and up there live the countrymen. The view from the hill is good and at night it is especially fun to look across the bay to Bellingham, which faces us in all its light glory. Strings of lights – so it seems – run up and down and across Seahome Hill. There, and most of the time, large and small ships of various types on the bay are all lit up. Not far from Marietta, coal mines operate more or less year-round. Few countrymen, if any, have worked in these mines. On the other hand, many countrymen have at various times worked on salmon fishing with success. Some had boats and fishing gear and fished on their own and sold their catch to a cannery or fish market. Now there are few, if any, people who do this kind of work in Marietta, because those who did are either gone, dead, or so old that working at home is more than enough. The younger generation takes a different approach. A number of countrymen that were once in Marietta have long since moved away from there. Some to Blaine and it has been mentioned there. Some are out in the wide world and now won’t be reached.”
Social Life
“There has never been much social life among Icelanders in Marietta. Those who are or have been sociable have followed the Bellingham Icelanders, attended their gatherings and probably many were members of the Kári Reading Society, which is mentioned in the Bellingham episode. Outdoor gatherings of the Bellingham Icelanders were often held in Marietta, and the Marietta Icelanders supported them with resolve and admiration. Bellingham and Marietta Icelanders often attended gatherings of their countrymen in Blaine, which the Blaine countrymen reciprocated in the same way, when it was something special, and thus each has been a source of strength for the other, in addition to the pleasure of showing off and seeing others, – come together as countrymen. Same story, despite differences of opinion on any topic. In this small village, the Icelanders have been a world of their own – especially the older people – neighbors and friends – fellow countrymen – whom no social group could reach – because there were no clubs there. All hands together when needed. All financially independent, and the best people.”