HEALY, Edwin P.

RASMUSON, OLSON, HAMPE, KRAMBEER, KNOEDLER, WILLSON, HEALY, HILL

Posted By: DiAnn Reindl (email)
Date: 12/21/2007 at 20:48:50

From the Britt News Tribune September 1934

EDWIN P. HEALY
Some Early Experiences in Britt That He Enjoyed Relating

On the afternoon train one day in April 1879 Ed Healy came from New Hampton, Iowa to be the local agent of the C. M. & St. Paul Railroad in Britt. At supper time he went to the hotel, which was located on the west side of Main Street about two blocks south of the depot. The mud went over his shoe tops to get to the hotel. Naturally, the hotel floor was deep with mud. That was discouraging to a young man, so he decided he would go back to the depot, sleep on the counter and would return to New Hampton next morning.

That evening Nick Lucas, who had a drug store on the present site of the Brooks Grocery, came to the depot wearing a pair of rubber boots and bringing a pair of rubber boots for Ed and inviting him to return to the drug store and share his room in the back of the store. He also told him he could board at the C. C. Way boarding house, where Ed became one of Mrs. Way's "boys". So due to the kindness and hospitality of Mr. Lucas and the C. C. Way family, Mr. Healy decided to remain in Britt.

During the severe snow storms of one of the winters in the early 80's there was a blockade and no trains through Britt for six weeks. On account of this prolonged blockade, local dealers ran out of fuel. At the time the Milwaukee had a supply of coal in their sheds at the tracks, so one day a group of farmers called on Ed and wanted to buy the railroad company's coal, as they were out of fuel, Ed wired his superintendent, but could not get permission to sell the coal as the company wanted it for their tranins through.

A few days later the farmers came with their sleighs to take the coal, telling him they would pay for it and that they intended to take fuel. So Ed wired his superintendent again that the coal was going to be taken, wheather he had permission or not, so the superintendent set the price on the coal and the farmers got a supply. R. S. Rasmuson was one of the early settlers who called for coal.
One of Mr. Healy's frist community interests was to plant a lot of Elm trees and his last community service was the circulating of a petition about eighteen months ago for the piece of pavement on U. S. 18 where the S curve was built this summer from the creamery northeast to the Lundberg property.

As a banker, Mr. Healy entered the business through a spirit of helpfulness. He had great faith in men of the pioneer type who came here to make homes; loaned them money, councelled with them, encouraged them. During the past few years many of the older residents of the community have expressed to him their appreciation of his assistance to them in various ways during his many years of active business life in the community.

It can be said of Edwin P. Healy that he spent his life in a effort to be of service to the people of Britt and vacinity. And no greater tribute can be paid him that to say that he succeeded.