Grund became Sigurdur and Caroline TAYLOR Christopherson's third homestead, after Husavik (New Iceland), and before at at his place of birth; Ytri-Neslond, Neslondum, Lake Mývatn, Iceland . Sigurdur had emigrated with some of his siblings and neighbors from Iceland. The Pioneers are mentioned in many books. Later Sigurdur would bring his mother and brothers. His sister Susie Breim remained in Iceland.
After New Iceland (Gimli and Husavik shelter-see link above) Sigurdur set out hay at this property returning the following year to start building Grund.
Reading text from letters Caroline TAYLOR Christopherson wrote in the 1880s transcribed by Ryan [post exact reference]. I mention it at CSES News page. Ryan thinks Grund may have been referred to as... "Oak Grove 31 June 16th 1882" since this was how Caroline addressed the letter. Roy now having visited there, it is in a "Grove of Oak Trees"
This was one of the local Post Offices and the Argyle District was created. basically of farmers between Glenboro, and Baldur.
As they found out later when youngest daughter, Lilja was brought to Winnipeg, local sufficed for certain things, not major operations.
Sigurdur's own brother, Hernit was a homeopathic doctor. The majority of family was born here, as relatives who were Mid-Wives delivered most.
Hernit Christopherson was requested more than the new doctor. They cleared the lands with Oxe and plow. According to Bruce Costello, sometimes
their own feet . Try cutting down one tree. Roy did limbs of a small tree. His hats off to Sigurdur for clearing not one but THREE homesteads!

Sigurdur was bed-ridden for a time. He made a trip to a retreat in B.C., where upon the doctors recommendation for a change of climate, they packed up and went west one last time, settling Ytranes (promounced (IT-TRE-NESS) at Crescent, British Columbia.

William, the 2nd eldest, remained at Grund eventually buying it. Often his brothers would sell/trade land there for property in Vancouver. Grund still stands today, and remains in the 5th generation of the family, the Skardals. The above text is what Roy has learned from and will be refined with facts later.
Enjoy our family history. Roy

Update: Roy connected with Donalee, Great Granddaughter of John William Christopherson
My parents are Lauren (Skardal) and Gordon Jones. My mom had two older brothers Alan & Stanley. All three siblings raised families and farmed in Argyle. My uncle Stan passed away in 2000. ...Grund is owned by my uncle Alan Skardal. He farms it with my cousin Christopher (Stan's son). I haven't been to the yard site for a few years, but the house is definitely in very rough condition, probably worse that it appears in your pictures. My uncle and his family were the last to live in the house (1982-84?). Redacted...
Donalee

Roy now believes Christopherson Lake was named after Hernit Christopherson whose property was adjacent.

Calendar Text and Photo Courtesy of Ed Fader
Back Cover: 'Grund' – the Kristófersson family estate near Baldur, Manitoba – circa 1912.

"– Built in 1896, five miles north and one and one half miles west of Baldur, ‘Grund’ was the home of Sigurdur and Carrie (Taylor) Kristófersson (Christopherson), who were the first Icelandic settlers in ‘Argylebyggd’ (Argyle Municipality) in Southwestern Manitoba. ‘Grund’, erected by carpenter Bæring Hallgrímson, served as the area post office (see sign on photo) until 1932, and the district became known as Grund, as did the nearby church, which is now an historic building. For many years, ‘Grund’ was a focal point for social events, and the ‘Skjaldbreid Hall’ was built nearby.

– Sigurdur Kristófersson, the son of Kristófer Andrésson and Sigurveig Sigurdardóttir of Ytri-Neslönd on Lake M´yvatn in Northern Iceland, emigrated at age 25 in 1873, among the first of his countrymen to come to North America. After two years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he joined the exploratory party which selected the ‘New Iceland’ site on Lake Winnipeg in the summer of 1875. Sigurdur first settled south of Gimli and named his homestead ‘Húsavík’ after ‘the last Icelandic soil’ he set foot on, and as a post office was established in his home on July 1, 1878, the district eventually became known as ‘Husavik’. He married in New Iceland, in a ceremony performed over Netley Creek during the smallpox quarantine, to Carrie Taylor, a daughter of William Taylor (brother to John Taylor), whose homestead on Willow Creek was called ‘Forest Home’.
– Sigurdur and Carrie were among the first to seek better land ‘south in Manitoba' in 1881, and Sigurdur is regarded as ‘Father’ of the Argyle Settlement. At one time he served as an emigration agent, guiding other Icelanders to Canada, and his pre-emption became known as ‘Little Baldur’ for the fact that many newcomers stayed in the three houses there while getting established. – In 1904, suffering from ill health, Sigurdur left ‘Grund’ to his elder son, Jón, and moved to Crescent, British Columbia, where he and Carrie started anew and established a home called ‘Ytra-Nes’ (see October). The photo, taken in 1912 while Sigurdur and Carrie (on left) were visiting ‘Grund’, also shows neighhours Árni S. Johnson and George Biles (centre); son and daughter-in-law Will and Stína Christopherson; and their son John (with bicycle), who succeeded to ‘Grund’ (father of Donna Skardal of Baldur). (Photo and poem courtesy of Donna Skardal)."

Do not get Argyle District, Manitoba, confused with Argyle, Manitoba (official Website, Wiki). More on Sigurdur's Argyle District

IMG_2371_PHOTO
Sigurdur Christopherson
Courtesy of the Lauren & Gordon Skardal Collection

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Sigurdur Christopherson
Courtesy of the Lauren & Gordon Skardal Collection

Here is the original photo the portraits were taken from. Also in the MWC Collection.. Very dark. There is an incorrectly numbered 3226 of another portrait of Sigurdur.

LOG CABIN
It was thought that the building to the left of Grund Farmstead might have been a stable or such.
The following transcribed by Ryan seems to idicate it was a guesthouse. This also discusses the original log cabin which Roy was unaware of. It is said that Sigurdur put hay out the year before, and they camped out the first summer of arrival.
Caroline TAYLOR Christopherson to Susie Briem from Grund MAR 28, 1890
"I must give you a plan of our log house with all the additions. It will interest you. Then we have a frame building about a rod west of the house just where our first log cabin was when you came here when we use as a granary and store house. There is a good upstairs in it which is used in the summer time as a sleeping apartment for the boys and hired man., pp 27, ^[33]

NEW For Family Members that would like to view all the photos of Hola School, Hallgrimsson's House, and the Grund Farmstead, go here.

Grund Homestead 1990's
IMG_SCAN_3813
This is almost same view as the calendar Ed Fader lent to Carrie Christopherson Humber, and above in B&W.
Courtesy of The Hank Christopherson Collection

Grund Homestead August 2013
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Click to Enlarge
Courtesy of The Roy Christopherson Collection

Grund Homestead
IMG_SCAN_3811
Note the barn on left side
Courtesy of The Hank Christopherson Collection

Grund Homestead
IMG_2286_PHOTO
Note the barn on left side is now gone
Courtesy of The Roy Christopherson Collection

Grund Homestead
IMG_SCAN_3812
Courtesy of The Hank Christopherson Collection
Note tree taking down the roof. Hank and keith made a pilgramage to this area of manitoba in the Argyle District.
Above the doorway on the porch roof was a sign saying Post Office.

Grund Homestead August 2013
IMG_0226_PHOTO
Courtesy of the Mike Christopherson Collection

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Ted (Roy's father), Donna Christopherson, here page is here
Courtesy of Ted Christopherson Collection

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William, Ted (Roy's father), Stina Christophersons
Courtesy of Ted Christopherson Collection

IMG_SCAN_2249
Christophersons at Grund, MB, Canada
Close up of left photo


Courtesy of The Sig & Hank
Christopherson Collection

IMG_SCAN_2246
Christophersons at Grund, MB, Canada
Donna Skardal by car and in the left photo, 3rd from left
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank
Christopherson Collection

IMG_SCAN_2246
Christophersons at Grund, MB, Canada
Donna Skardal in left photo |
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank
Christopherson Collection

IMG_SCAN_2460
Ethel Skardal, Anna SVEINSON Nordman, Arni Sveinson, and Raymond Skardal. Anna and Arni are children of Jon Sveinson. Jon is son of Arni Sveinson, Pioneer.

Roy's father, Ted was visiting that day about 1936. There are 4-5 taken here the same day that Roy found in Ted's album.

UPDATE: From Ed Fader: Laara said: Aunt Anna told me that the woman with her and Arni is Ethel Skardal and the child is her son, Raymond. Ethel is the sister of Alice Joel, Uncle Svein Sveinson's wife. Ethel married Frank Skardal. They lived in Baldur from the early years of their marriage and through the years that Raymond, their only child, was going to school.

From Ed Fader: Laara said: redacted... My uncle Arni, mother's oldest brother, did not marry. His sister, my Aunt Anna, is in the centre of the photo (as you know).
They will be uploaded soon.
Courtesy of The Ted Christopherson Collection

IIMG_6355_SCAN The Einarsons

Part of the Green album.
Courtesy of Pauline Einarson Collection

Image 6355
For a fact, this is the Einarsons, possibly outside Hallgrimsson Homestead.
Having visited, this is NOT Grund. Vern reminded me of the roof's style, it is a Mansard roof, French.
UPDATE: Roy now belives this is the Halgrimsson farm

How Pauline Einarson (3rd from Left) met Ted,
son of Kjartan, son of Sigurdur
"The Grund church known as Frelsis (Liberty) Lutheran Church, is south of the Arason homestead and north of Christophersons. The families all attended church there, as did your Dad's uncle Bill Christopherson. When Bill died the funeral was at Grund and that is when your mother and father met."
[Quote by Aunt Emily Enns 03/18/06]

Find it amazing now that I have physically seen where the Einarson farm and Grund farms were located, which a just about 4 miles apart, that they never met before. The Christophersons used Hola school and the Einarsons used Frey school to the north. They used to shop and tied to Glenboro, not Baldur.
Roy

See comparison here.

IMG_SCAN_3384
Possibly women of Argyle District or Surrey/PT. Roberts
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection

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Possibly women of Argyle District or Surrey/PT. Roberts
Read the news on Echos of the Past.
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection

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Unknown, Kristin, Haldor on Horse,
William Christopherson
Probably taken at Grund
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection

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Possibly Kristin´s mother, William and KRISTIN JONSDÓTTER Christopherson
unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, possibly Will's youngest son, John C.
Possibly Susie's mother-inlaw and chidlren>
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection

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Unknown, Unknown, KRISTIN 'Stina' JONSDOTTER Christopherson, William, Haldor (Will´s brother),
and possibly John Christopherson
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection

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BAND
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection

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ARGYLEBAND
Courtesy of 'Come Into Our Heritage' Argyle 1882-1892

IMG_SCAN_2280_Cropped_Grund

Notice the stone foundation and angled window
Roy believes the building in the forground was moved from next to Grund Homestead (back) down to this position.
The wall behind the large barn or stable is a Barn being built, seen in the later photos.
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection

IMG_SCAN_2380_Grund_PC_Rooftop
Grund Homestead
This was the tip-off, that special roof
A Flat French design roof in the middle of snowy winters, go figure.
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection

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Close-up
Ranka Johnson/Jonsson m. Haldor Christopherson

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Grund Homestead - Piano
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection

IMG_SCAN_2412_
Guðny & Jón Sveinson
Arni was their neighbor & a Pioneer
From Laara: "This is my grandfather, Jón Sveinson
and the oldest of his sisters, Guðny, who married Gunnar Matthiasson." Laara is the granddaughter of Jon Sveinson. (Jon is the son of pioneers Arni and Gudrun)
Roy: See Pg 436 'Beneath the Long Grass' I wasn't able to identify that couple in #2412 and neither was my mom. It's definitely not John & Laura.
Donnalee
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection

IMG SCAN 3266
Unknown Couple
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection

IMG_SCAN_3223
Grund Homestead
5th from left is Jón Sveinson
Kjartan on the left, and Haldor date these photos
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection
View High Resolution Version 219k

Close Up of NO. 5 from the right

Close Up of NO. 2 young man from the right in 3341 below on an Icelandic Pony

Sign On Grund house left of the door says
??H BRITISH
AND
CANTINA
?? ENTRANCE CA?

View Even Higher Resolution Version
Roy's Photoshop version over orig photo

IMG_2734_PHOTO
Mike Christopherson at Grund
Not visable, there is chicken wire to our right
With the overhang about to fall down, and the porch buckling, we pressed onwards.
Courtesy of The Mike & Roy
Christopherson Collection 2013

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Roy Christopherson at Grund Homestead
Mike is puzzled why God Rays are always in my photos?
Having the above photo, standing on the porch after seeing these 100 year old photos was mystical
Courtesy of The Mike & Roy
Christopherson Collection 2013

"It does not seem long
since we all came to Gimli and now
those that were little children then
are grown men and women."
Caroline Christopherson, Grund, 1893, pp 30 , ^[33]

Grund in Winter
20140531_005339_PHOTO
Courtesy of The Miriam Westereng Collection

image 2186a
Grund Homestead
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection
On the lower roof spot the Post Office Sign and the chicken wire around the house.
William Christopherson, Sigurdur's eldest son lived in the house, then Donna 'Christopherson' Skardal and Norman
Courtesy of The Sig & Hank Christopherson Collection

"Well, to hear the stories Lorne and sometimes even my mom (Lilja 'Christopherson' Costello) told,
they broke up dirt clods with their bare feet while plowing the hardscrabble fields in 100+ degree heat in summer."
Bruce Costello

From this website, learned that the type of roof on Grund is referred to as
a Mansard roof
Mansard roof always form a flat roof.