12

That first fall, a fire destroyed most of the hay they had cut, and so they went south to the dry Foam Lake to cut more. Their only hay mower broke down, the hay was getting too ripe and it was late in the season so Gisli Bildfell saddled up a horse and rode to Saltcoats, 140km (90miles) away and a full day's trip. He had to wait 2 days to get parts from Winnipeg, and when he got back, they were cutting hay by hand with scythes and raking it with home-made rakes.

13

The area was ranching country at that time, with a handful of other settlers raising cattle rather than farming. The Icelanders also ranched, raising cattle and sheep. In 1894 or -95, a prairie fire started south of Fishing Lake and traveled north and west for 4 miles, devastating hay supplies, barns, and even cattle unlucky enough to be caught in its path. The tiny community's hay supply for the winter as well as one of the stables was destroyed in the fire, but all the residents escaped.

14

Tall grass hay in Foam Lake Marsh
9 October 2005
Foam Lake, SK Canada

15

All winter, the Icelanders cut hay from the dry bed of Foam Lake and hauled it for the cattle. Ingi did most of the hauling, possibly because he was the only bachelor and could spend a longer time away from home.

After the fire, several families moved to the shores of Foam Lake, although at that time it was still dry and they probably hadn't realized it was normally filled with water.

16

Thorsteinson, Thorstein and Anna
1 January 1914
Leslie, SK Canada

17

Thorsteinson, Danny on 'Squatting'
10 December 2005
Leslie, SK Canada

18

[Thorsteinson, Danny]
My grandfather [Thorsteinson, Thorstein] and his mother [Thorsteinson, Gudbjorg Sigurdordottir] and I believe it was three children came and squatted on the west side of the lake. And that's where my father [Einar] was born in 1899.

[Squatting was a term used during the pioneer era to describe living on land you did not own or homestead]

19

Scale Reproduction of Bertdale School
9 October 2005
Foam Lake, SK Canada

20

Thorsteinson, Danny on sailing on Foam Lake
10 December 2005
Leslie, SK Canada

21

[Thorsteinson, Danny]
...But obviously here they settled in the Churchbridge Thingvalla and then moved up to White Sand, spent four years there before coming over here in 1898 and settling on the west side of the lake. There was a school across the water that- across the marsh - Bertdale. Not where it is today, it used to be right along the east side of the lake. It was on the east side because I was told these three kids had to go to school and they were actually put on a boat and sent off to school, on the good days, because to get around the marsh was many miles.

22

Initial Foam Lake Settlement Icelandic Homesteads
9 December 2005

23

By 1900, there were 15 Icelandic homesteaders with their families.

24

Wadena Herald clipping summarizing Land Regulations for Homesteading
22 June 1911

25

Foam Lake Homesteaders 1892 to 1900
9 December 2005