an interesting coincidence 10 comments
On Saturday, I received an email from a fellow historic architecture enthusiast by the name of Anders Christensen. He contacted me with regard to a builder by the name of T.P. Healy. There is a Facebook page associated with this builder which goes by the moniker of T.P Healy, Master Builder: King of the Queen Anne. If you are unable to follow that link back to Facebook, here is one that goes to another page pertaining to Healy and his architecture.
On the Facebook page, Healy is described as:
….Minneapolis’s most prolific master builder, constructing 130 structures during his career (1886-1906). Healy designed many of the houses he built, but he also worked with a number of architects, including H. W. Jones, W.M. Kenyon, and W.C. Whitney. His most famous group of houses (3100 Block of Second and Third Avenue South) received national designation as the Healy Block Historic District in 1993.
Anders informed me that Theron Healy and his wife, Mary Ann Jefferson, were both born and got married in Round Hill, Nova Scotia, then moved to Minneapolis in 1885. While searching for information on Theron Healy, Anders stumbled upon my blog pages about the old house I have been working on at Round Hill, and wondered if I might have some knowledge of the Healy family. I was a little surprised when I read his note as it happens that my house was built in 1861 by John Henry Healy. After a couple of back and forth notes, Anders informed me that John Healy was the oldest brother of Theron Healy.
I don’t know a great deal about John Healy apart from the fact that he appears on a provincial historic house survey as the owner-builder. From other sources, I have discovered that he was the owner of the Round Hill Woodworks Company which was in business for several decades in the late 1800s. There had been two large wooden factory buildings by the river on the corner of my property, but one was destroyed many years ago. The other still stands and is owned and used as a warehouse by a neighbour who has an antique shop in Annapolis Royal.
If you’re interested in learning more about my old house project, follow this link to the archives of my posts about the Round Hill house.
10 Responses to 'an interesting coincidence'
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Jim Poushinsky
20 Mar 12 at 10:20 am
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That is so cool, bev. It gives even more significance to your incredibly beautiful restoration. How lucky that house found you!
20 Mar 12 at 10:25 am
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So many interesting connections made via the internet. Fascinating that you saw into the heart of your new/old house through photos and bought it while in Bisbee and now come to find its place in the history of architecture. Lovely connections. Incidentally, my father was born in Minneapolis and grew up there.
The last few days finally feel like spring here. I am guessing you will be heading northeast again soon.
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Maybe another coincidence? When I mentioned to a friend of mine who is in her 70s about your house in Round Hill and the Healy and Minnesota connection, she said, “Hmmm … my ancestors came to the Pacific Northwest via Ireland, Nova Scotia, and Minnesota, and my godfather’s name was Healy.” That would have been a Healy living near Seattle. She didn’t offer his first name, and I didn’t ask, but I said I would mention this to you!
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Thanks, everyone. It’s been quite interesting to learn more of the history of my old place in Round Hill.
Am – that’s very interesting about the Healy in Seattle. If you read the .pdf file on the Healy architecture in Minneapolis, there is a bit of info on the Healy family that lived there. Anders and others with an interest in the Healy history and architecture have done some research into the family and its descendents.
bev wigney
23 Mar 12 at 12:38 pm
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This is wonderful stuff, Bev. I always thought your Round Hill house had good bones, and now it appears that she has illustrious beginnings.
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fascinating, bev!
Sky
29 Mar 12 at 9:32 pm
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You’ve obviously got a good eye for architecture, Bev, and it’s great to see how you’re getting that wonderful old home back into form!
Ed
7 Apr 12 at 10:24 am
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http://tphealy.blogspot.com/2012/05/happy-birthday-tp.html
Hello Bev!
Greetings from Minneapolis Minnesota…where Anders Christensen, Trilby Busch and Theron Potter Healy fans are celebrating the 168th birthday of Theron Potter Healy…today!!!
He was born May 14, 1844, in Round Hill.Madeline Douglass
14 May 12 at 12:57 pm
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Thanks for posting the link, Madeline!
TP Healey was born in 1844, so would have been 17 at the time his older brother John built your house Bev. He likely worked for John and helped in the construction and was influenced by the design. This would explain his ability to later engage in the house construction he is famous for in Minneapolis, after his shipping career sank with his boat. Neat!