Chapter 6:
Highlights of Arborg's History: 1889 - 2001

1889	Borgfjord brothers settled in the Arborg area.
1900	Advance party from North Dakota explored area for settlement. Jakob Gudmundson built first home in Arborg.
1901	Settlers arrived from North Dakota (including Petúr Stefán Gudmundson and Guðrún Jól;hanna Benjamínsdóttir)
1902	Árdal Post Office opened August 1st. Lutheran Congregation formed August 14th.
1903	First Community Hall (Félagshús) built one mile west of Arborg.
1904	Árdal School District formed. Bjorn Sigvaldason was the first teacher.
1905	An Icelandic lending library "Mímir" was established in March.
1907	North Star Creamery Co-op organized June 14th. 44 members, with a managing board of 7 including Pétur Stefán Gudmundson.
1908	A more formal Icelandic Library was established (Fróðleikshvöt).
1909	Jonasson & Sigurdson built first store. S.M. Sigurdson built second store, and Palsson Bros. built third store, which was a drug store.
1910	Canadian Pacific Railway reaches Árdal.
1911	Árdal changed name to Arborg June 1st. Canadian Pacific Railway established regular train service. The Árdal Lutheran Church was built.
1912	The Árdal School was built.
1913	Arborg had 7 piece Orchestra.
1916	Weigh Scale installed on Main Street.
1917	Major fire destroyed S.M. Sigurdson store and living quarters, Hotel, Drugstore and Telephone Office, Barbershop, and Poolroom February 11th.
1918	Bank of Commerce opened December 2nd. W.S. Tuckey was Manager.
1919	Arborg Farmer's Co-op Store opened October 1st. Jon Sigurdson was President, M.M. Jonasson was Manager.
1921	U.F.W.M. (United Farm Women of Manitoba) organized.
1922	Fire wiped out the entire business block except the Hotel, May 22nd. Liberty Grain built first elevator U.F.W.M. introduced Crafts to school. School expanded.
1924	Agricultural Society formed May 24th. G.O. Einarson was President. Telephone Building was erected on Main Street.
1925	First tuberculosis testing was done on cattle.
1926	Federated Ladies Aid formed June 12th. Arborg's first Baby Show was held.
1927	Unitarian Church built.
1928	50th wedding anniversary celebrated by Petúr Stefán Gudmundson and Guðrún Jól;hanna Benjamínsdóttir Arborg Implements & Motors established by Dori Erlendson and Thor Lifman.
1929	Dori Erlandson won an award selling Model A Fords.
1930	Co-op established trucking service.
1931	St. Philip Roman Catholic Church built Oct. 18th. First district nurse in Arborg Oct.19th.
1932	Municipal Taxpayers protested. Arborg won Free Press Drama Shield. First Tonsil Clinic S.M. Sigurdson dismantled store & moves to Churchill, Man. First recorded Village of Arborg meeting held Jan 23rd. Council: Dr. Bjornson, G.O. Einarson, and Tryggvi Ingjaldson.
1933	St. Benedict's taught first Grade Twelve class.
1934	Art & His Ambassadors Orchestra was formed.
1935	Andrea Johnson elected president of U.F.W.M. Arborg Knitting Co. formed.
1937	M.J. Danielson opened Auto Service.
1938	Tryggvi Ingjaldson, original settler and community leader, died.
1939	War declared Sept. 10th.
1940	First Pool Elevator built.
1941	Pool Annex constructed. Crescent Motor Service opened.
1942 1943 1944	War Casualties Mount.
1946	Legion granted Charter. Two-sheet Curling Rink constructed. Manitoba Hydro came to town; 38 street lights installed. North Star Creamery opened locker plant.
1947	Land clearing was in full swing with heavy equipment.
1948	Arborg won Manitoba High School Curling Championship. Pool built second elevator. North Star Creamery installed Buttermilk drying equipment.
1949	Arborg won High School Curling again. John & Evelyn Zdan opened Riverview Jewellery. Chamber of Commerce formed, G. McEachern President. North Star Creamery started Meat Processing.
1950	Red Cross Memorial Hospital opened Jan. 13th. Árdal School burnt Jan. 16th. New Post Office opened on Main Street.
1951	Chamber of Commerce purchased Community Centre grounds. Árdal School rebuilt.
1952	Credit Union organized June 26th. Esso Station opened. Chamber of Commerce held first Sports Day. New Recreation Centre built.
1953	Provincial 4-H Award won by Joyce Borgfjord and Eleanor Johannson.
1954	National 4-H Award won by Joyce Borgfjord and Eleanor Johannson. Legion opened club rooms July 1st. Telephone system changed to dial.
1955	Community Hall built on Rec. Centre grounds.
1956	Explosion and fire demolished Arborg Bargain Store with the loss of two lives, Bob Schempek and William Palamarchuk.
1958	Viking Motors became the new G.M. dealer. Bodnar Motors was under construction.
1959	Lake Centre News first edition published Sept. 8th. Hospital enlarged from 8 to 15 beds. Arena construction started July 8th. Farm Credit Office established.
1960	Arborg hosted First Open Bonspiel, won by C. Arnason, Gimli. Arena opened by Hon. George Johnson on Jan. 8th. Arborg's First Carnival in new rink. Hedy Johnson was Queen. Falcons won Lake Winnipeg Thorvaldson trophy. Arborg Drugs opened on Main Street.
1961	Highway 68 completed around Arborg. St. Benedict's moved to Middlechurch. Arborg Collegiate opened, with H. Benson as principal.
1962	Mercury Vapor lights installed on Main Street.
1963	Referendum held on Village Incorporation, 145 for, 42 against. School for the Handicapped opened in October. New Credit Union building opened. Election for first Mayor and Council. New Shell Station opened by W. Harasym.
1964	Village Council was sworn in, with Ken Reid as first Mayor. Expanded Curling Rink opened. Regional Library established. First paving of business section completed. Weed control board formed.
1965	New Post Office opened Feb. 15th. Referendum held on sewer and water services, 85% in favor. Consolidated School District of Arborg formed. Village buys old Post Office Building for Offices. Highways department opened office. New Legion Club rooms officially opened.
1966	RCMP opened River Road detachment. Sewer and Water utilities opened September 30th.
1967	Canada Centennial Project. Icelandic River Beautification. Patterson Grain Elevator built.
1968	Department of Highways opened District Office. Town Bridge opened by Hon. George Johnson. Centennial Cairn dedicated Aug. 10th. Roadside Park opened.
1969	Johnson & Sons Store opened April 17. North Star Cheese Plant opened in June. Scientific Feed opened June 12.
1970	Centennial Gate to Recreation Centre built. Interlake Development Corporation formed. Vet Clinic and Board established. Busy Beaver Drive Inn opened.
1971	Hall, Arena, Curling Rink improved. Tennis Courts built. House numbering system & some street names changed.
1972	Vet Clinic opened Jan. 12th. Agriculture office announced. Pool buys Federal Grain Elevator.
1973	CPR station and grounds purchased. Mobile Home Park established. River control structure built. 27 new homes built.
1974	Sunrise Lodge opened March 29th. Worst flood in memory, April 13th. Kinsmen Club formed. Jane Stoyanowski elected first Lady Councilor. Riverdale Place opened in December.
1975	Library and Fire Hall opened in old CPR station. Provincial Building opened by Hon. Russ Doern. New Ambulance purchased for Argorg. Geir Hallgrimson, Iceland's Prime Minister, visited.
1976	CIBC opened. Co-op Store & Gas Bar opened. Promo-Wear Clothing Factory started. Arborg Flying Club formed. Kinnette Club organized. Senior Citizens Club formed. Interlake Interiors, Interlake Heating, and Arborg Tire were all established.
1977	Curling Rink got artificial ice. Airport commission established. Robinson Store opened. Personal Care Home opened.
1978	Co-op celebrated 50 years in Arborg. Gardar Printing opened. New Shachtay Sales building opened.
1979	Airport opened. Chicken Delight opened. Elm Grove Florists opened. Sewage lagoon is doubled in size.
1980	Eastern Interlake Planning District first meeting held April 16th. Fire Commission formed. McLeods Store opened. All Street lighting upgraded. KuHing Chinese Restaurant destroyed in fire. Arborg Secretary-Treasurer Joe Rakai retired.
1981	First Manitoba Grouse Shoot held. Village Public Works Garage opened. Senior Citizens Club opened. Interlake Tractor Parts opened. Food Town Store opened.
1982	CPR rebuilt rail line. Arborg Department Store and Food Town destroyed by fire. New Pool Elevator opened. Kinsmen Centre opened. Day Care Centre opened in Kinsmen Centre. Interlake Glass opened. Arborg IGA opened.
1983	New Arborg Hospital opened. CPR replaced bridge over Icelandic River. Tergesen Building opened. Arborg Historical Society opened.
1984	New Arena Board formed. Margeret Lifman, the last original settler from 1901, celebrated 100th birthday. First stage of New Arena opened. Gislason Drive dedicated July 11th.
1985	Arborg Bifrost Fire Hall opened. North Star New Bothwell built Cheese Plant. Sunrise Lodge added 14 units. Fire Department purchased tanker truck.
1986	New Lutheran Church opened June 1. Vidir Lumber constructed new Lumber Yard. Drabik Implements opened on St. Phillips Drive. Viking Motors opened new showroom.
1987	Feed Rite constructed new Feed mill. First apartment complex is built.
1988	Sewage and Water services expanded.
1988	Arborg Travelling Inn opened.
1991	New Village of Arborg Civic Offices opened. Arborg Bifrost Parks and Recreation Commission formed.
1992	Former CPR station designated Historical Site. New Medical Clinic opened. New Chicken Chef Building opened. Viking Motors expanded to new location.
1993	Construction of new water supply and reservoir began. Midlake Equipment opened. Arborg Building Supplies opened. Harbor Builders moved to Arborg. New Arborg Credit Union Building opened.
1994	Gilbert International opened. Smitty's Furniture moved to Main Street.
1995	Extensive Residential Street paving started. New Main Street storm sewers installed. Arborg Nic Nacs opened.
1996	Main Street repaved and upgraded.
1997	Main Street Streetscaping commenced. Arborg became a Town, October 25th.
1998	"Arborg - A Town Unfolds Celebration" was held May 30th.