STRAWBERRY GARDEN
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Photo Below:
(L-R) Jack Doane, Roman Glinski, Susan Emery, Howard Emery & Billy Doane on his Shoulders
On 3 September 1935, Roman Glinski, a 41 year old bachelor purchased the SE1/4 of the NW 1.4 of Range 27 from Ida M. Andeline. This land was originally homesteaded by William Wright in 1902 and became property of the Virginia & Rainy Lake Lumber Company in 1913.
Prior to settling in the Britt community Roman lived on his farm, adjacent to the C.W. Stahl farm at Gheen, MN and he was the builder of the Novak Store at that community.
The sandy loam soil of the land was ideal for his intent of growing strawberries and vegetables and he was an intelligent, multi-talented farmer that was up to the task of turning the land into a profitable truck farm. Over the years Roman improvised a joker made from a GMC truck for a tractor, a dragline to dig ponds, an irrigation system and many other tools and equipment needed for his farm. He also provided employment for some ladies and boys of the community. He sold his produce from a stand that he built along side of Highway 53 for many years; His largest single crop was strawberries although he also grew raspberries, boysenberries, currants, bing cherries and vegetables for sale. During the peak of the berry season the International Falls bus would stop often to pick up cases of them to ship northward.
Roman was also a teacher for a couple of lads in the neighborhood instructing them in the fine skills of snaring snowshoe hares, checker playing, work and proper behavior.
For some years he spent part of the winter season in Florida and when he departed for there his pickup truck was full of birch Yule log candle holders that he sold there for the Christmas season.
Roman Glinski died outdoors on a cold January evening of a massive heart attack in January 1968, at age 74, while thawing a fuel oil heating line. He was found the next day with snow shovel and tea kettle still clenched in his hands. This gentleman’s death created a void in the community and he was dearly missed by all that knew him.
Prior to settling in the Britt community Roman lived on his farm, adjacent to the C.W. Stahl farm at Gheen, MN and he was the builder of the Novak Store at that community.
The sandy loam soil of the land was ideal for his intent of growing strawberries and vegetables and he was an intelligent, multi-talented farmer that was up to the task of turning the land into a profitable truck farm. Over the years Roman improvised a joker made from a GMC truck for a tractor, a dragline to dig ponds, an irrigation system and many other tools and equipment needed for his farm. He also provided employment for some ladies and boys of the community. He sold his produce from a stand that he built along side of Highway 53 for many years; His largest single crop was strawberries although he also grew raspberries, boysenberries, currants, bing cherries and vegetables for sale. During the peak of the berry season the International Falls bus would stop often to pick up cases of them to ship northward.
Roman was also a teacher for a couple of lads in the neighborhood instructing them in the fine skills of snaring snowshoe hares, checker playing, work and proper behavior.
For some years he spent part of the winter season in Florida and when he departed for there his pickup truck was full of birch Yule log candle holders that he sold there for the Christmas season.
Roman Glinski died outdoors on a cold January evening of a massive heart attack in January 1968, at age 74, while thawing a fuel oil heating line. He was found the next day with snow shovel and tea kettle still clenched in his hands. This gentleman’s death created a void in the community and he was dearly missed by all that knew him.
Britt Community Historical Society--BCHS, P.O. Box 154, Virginia, MN 55792 ---Email: info@britthistory.org