In 1941, 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
Bellingham Photo Wikipedia
“Bellingham is the county seat of Whatcom County in the State of Washington. The town is about 96 miles north from Seattle and stands to the southeast of Bellingham Bay. This fjord lays to the east of the great Puget Sound. Previously there were two towns, Fairhaven and Whatcom. These towns were joined into one in 1903 and the new town got its name from the bay. The name of the bay was originally given by George Vancouver in 1792 to honor Lord Bellingham, who discovered it. Bellingham was the legal name established in 1903. How long since this town was built or when white men first lived there is not clear. It is said that there are now 35,000 people in Bellingham. There is an excellent harbor and much shipping, because Bellingham is the most northerly seaport in this state. Seagoing ships between Alaska and California stop there to transport people and goods north and south. The main occupations offered are in lumber and shingle mills. There are also brick and cement plants, can and box plants, canneries for salmon and vegetables, a beet sugar refinery, as well as many others. Four railroad lines go through the town: Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Milwaukee & St. Paul, and Canadian Pacific. There are many splendid buildings, such as banks, schools of all types, libraries, bookstores, between 30 and 40 churches, and two hospitals and many others. Bellingham is a beautiful town. The location is such that the view is diverse and beautiful. On the bay are islands, high and low, inhabited and uninhabited, and to the north on the bay the village of Marietta. Some Icelanders still live there – more about this later. East of Bellingham towers Mt. Baker, highest peak in the [North] Cascade Mountains. In the winter it has a white headdress, in the summer merely a decorated chest, but it is majestic however it is clothed. Bellingham stands on a hill named Seaborne – dresses it and lays north and east from it and down to sea. The hill itself is high and nearly globular. West of the hill is a wonderfully beautiful valley-now fully developed, surrounded by hills, which lead down to the sea. There a few Icelanders live.”
ICELANDERS
“It is plausible that Icelanders came to Bellingham around the time they came to Blaine and Marietta. Unfortunately, some of them are now long gone from there, or deceased, so they cannot be reached. Neither is there any substantial information about their family and origin, nor what year they came there. Alas, it becomes more or less guesswork. Icelandic social life in Bellingham has without doubt been like other places, where there are so many of them, that it can be discussed. Small associations, which come and go, can be useful to their members and probably others, and cause joy and help while they last. Most significant is without doubt their reading association. Concerning it, allow me to take the following exerpt from a letter from a man, who has long been, and is still, in Bellingham and knows this well. He says, “the reading association Kari was established 14 March, 1914. The instigator was Mr. M. Goodman, and it was formed at his good home with 40 members. Today we have 36 members, which is pretty good, as there are only 14 left of the original founders. Some have moved away, but most are deceased, and it will be difficult to replace many of them. We have a beautiful library, but unfortunately I cannot say, at this time, how many books are there. This is the only association, which has been established among Icelanders in Bellingham.” So ends this exerpt. Mr. M. Goodman, who is mentioned here, is Guðmundur E. Goodman, an honest fellow and notable man – described early in this part. He was generally called “Mundi”. This reading association worked well and was the vehicle for most or all meetings in Bellingham. The President of the association has long and often been Mr. Þórður Anderson, mentioned in this article. He has long been in Bellingham – was one of the founders of Kari and is well acquainted with Icelandic social affairs.”