Edwin was an only child born in Lancaster, Wisconsin. When he was younger he and his parents lived in Anamosa, Iowa near Cedar Rapids where his father Frank was a tinsmith and plumber. He gained the nickname "River Rat" because he spent so much time down along the rivers and streams around Cedar Rapids. It was there he also contracted scarlet fever and almost died. They lived there for several years before eventually moving back to Wisconsin and settling in Dodgeville where he graduated from high school. He attended Platteville State Teachers College, Platteville, Wisconsin, earning a degree in Manual Arts and Ancient History in 1924. He was well known for his running abilities winning numerous ribbons and medals in various competitions. His college track records in the Relay and 220 Yard events held until well into the late 1970's and 80's. Kathryn, his daughter always said he could run so fast because he was slightly pidgeon toed.
He taught for two years in Sauk City, Wisconsin before moving to Sparta in 1926. His wife, Helen, moved there in 1930. Edwin taught Manual Training, later to become Industrial Arts and Helen taught Social Studies in the same district. Edwin and Helen eloped and married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, 11 June, 1932. They kept their marriage secret for a couple years because at that time teachers could not be married to other teachers in the same school district, muchless same school. They would spend their summers in Yellowstone National Park working at the Grand Old Yellowstone Lodge. Edwin taught Industrial Arts for 28 years in the Sparta School District. In all those years he had a perfect attendance record, never missing a day. In addition to teaching he also coached track, boxing, basketball and football. Cousin, William Hinton "Bill" Jefferson remembers Coach Blewett well. If coach caught you wearing your cleats other than on the football field he would make you run laps. Edwin caught Bill wearing his in downtown Sparta. He was sure he was caught, but Edwin made no mention of it at the time. Days later Bill had forgotten. Edwin pulled him aside and said "remember last week when you were wearing your cleats downtown? Go run some laps". Bill never forgot to take his cleats off after that. Edwin also liked to build boats in his Shop Classes, upstairs in the old Sparta High School building. The trick was getting the boats out when they were done. He would often tell his students if you can figure out how to get them out of the shop you will get an "A".
He and Helen lived at 210 Court Street in Sparta. After Kathryn Ann was born they purchased the home at 505 Pearl Street, in Sparta where his second wife, Emma lived until 1988. Edwin had married Helen Alice Lotz in June 1932. A little more than a year after her death in 1943 he married Emma Hermina Lorenz. She and Helen were roomates in college. He and Emma had two children together, Etha May, "Meggy" and Joan Mary, "Joey".
Edwin was an avid sportsman. He would tie fishing flies all winter and sell them. Kathryn remembers spending week long vacations in the summer at lodges in the North woods of Wisconsin all because of the profits from selling fishing flies.
Even in her 96th year (2010) Joan McCoy remebered Edwin or "Eddie" well and said he always had a joke for you. Cousin, Barbara (Bruce) Jefferson, remembers him too. Her father, William Bruce was the Superintendent of Sparta Schools and a very close friend of Edwin's. Barb worked the soda counter as a young girl just out of high school. She said Edwin always had a joke for you as well, but sometimes they were a bit racy.
He died of a heart attack at his home, Friday evening, April 23, 1954. He is buried in the Blewett Family plot at Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster, Wisconsin beside his wife Helen.
He taught for two years in Sauk City, Wisconsin before moving to Sparta in 1926. His wife, Helen, moved there in 1930. Edwin taught Manual Training, later to become Industrial Arts and Helen taught Social Studies in the same district. Edwin and Helen eloped and married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, 11 June, 1932. They kept their marriage secret for a couple years because at that time teachers could not be married to other teachers in the same school district, muchless same school. They would spend their summers in Yellowstone National Park working at the Grand Old Yellowstone Lodge. Edwin taught Industrial Arts for 28 years in the Sparta School District. In all those years he had a perfect attendance record, never missing a day. In addition to teaching he also coached track, boxing, basketball and football. Cousin, William Hinton "Bill" Jefferson remembers Coach Blewett well. If coach caught you wearing your cleats other than on the football field he would make you run laps. Edwin caught Bill wearing his in downtown Sparta. He was sure he was caught, but Edwin made no mention of it at the time. Days later Bill had forgotten. Edwin pulled him aside and said "remember last week when you were wearing your cleats downtown? Go run some laps". Bill never forgot to take his cleats off after that. Edwin also liked to build boats in his Shop Classes, upstairs in the old Sparta High School building. The trick was getting the boats out when they were done. He would often tell his students if you can figure out how to get them out of the shop you will get an "A".
He and Helen lived at 210 Court Street in Sparta. After Kathryn Ann was born they purchased the home at 505 Pearl Street, in Sparta where his second wife, Emma lived until 1988. Edwin had married Helen Alice Lotz in June 1932. A little more than a year after her death in 1943 he married Emma Hermina Lorenz. She and Helen were roomates in college. He and Emma had two children together, Etha May, "Meggy" and Joan Mary, "Joey".
Edwin was an avid sportsman. He would tie fishing flies all winter and sell them. Kathryn remembers spending week long vacations in the summer at lodges in the North woods of Wisconsin all because of the profits from selling fishing flies.
Even in her 96th year (2010) Joan McCoy remebered Edwin or "Eddie" well and said he always had a joke for you. Cousin, Barbara (Bruce) Jefferson, remembers him too. Her father, William Bruce was the Superintendent of Sparta Schools and a very close friend of Edwin's. Barb worked the soda counter as a young girl just out of high school. She said Edwin always had a joke for you as well, but sometimes they were a bit racy.
He died of a heart attack at his home, Friday evening, April 23, 1954. He is buried in the Blewett Family plot at Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster, Wisconsin beside his wife Helen.
Edwin was an only child born in Lancaster, Wisconsin. When he was younger he and his parents lived in Anamosa, Iowa near Cedar Rapids where his father Frank was a tinsmith and plumber. He gained the nickname "River Rat" because he spent so much time down along the rivers and streams around Cedar Rapids. It was there he also contracted scarlet fever and almost died. They lived there for several years before eventually moving back to Wisconsin and settling in Dodgeville where he graduated from high school. He attended Platteville State Teachers College, Platteville, Wisconsin, earning a degree in Manual Arts and Ancient History in 1924. He was well known for his running abilities winning numerous ribbons and medals in various competitions. His college track records in the Relay and 220 Yard events held until well into the late 1970's and 80's. Kathryn, his daughter always said he could run so fast because he was slightly pidgeon toed.
He taught for two years in Sauk City, Wisconsin before moving to Sparta in 1926. His wife, Helen, moved there in 1930. Edwin taught Manual Training, later to become Industrial Arts and Helen taught Social Studies in the same district. Edwin and Helen eloped and married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, 11 June, 1932. They kept their marriage secret for a couple years because at that time teachers could not be married to other teachers in the same school district, muchless same school. They would spend their summers in Yellowstone National Park working at the Grand Old Yellowstone Lodge. Edwin taught Industrial Arts for 28 years in the Sparta School District. In all those years he had a perfect attendance record, never missing a day. In addition to teaching he also coached track, boxing, basketball and football. Cousin, William Hinton "Bill" Jefferson remembers Coach Blewett well. If coach caught you wearing your cleats other than on the football field he would make you run laps. Edwin caught Bill wearing his in downtown Sparta. He was sure he was caught, but Edwin made no mention of it at the time. Days later Bill had forgotten. Edwin pulled him aside and said "remember last week when you were wearing your cleats downtown? Go run some laps". Bill never forgot to take his cleats off after that. Edwin also liked to build boats in his Shop Classes, upstairs in the old Sparta High School building. The trick was getting the boats out when they were done. He would often tell his students if you can figure out how to get them out of the shop you will get an "A".
He and Helen lived at 210 Court Street in Sparta. After Kathryn Ann was born they purchased the home at 505 Pearl Street, in Sparta where his second wife, Emma lived until 1988. Edwin had married Helen Alice Lotz in June 1932. A little more than a year after her death in 1943 he married Emma Hermina Lorenz. She and Helen were roomates in college. He and Emma had two children together, Etha May, "Meggy" and Joan Mary, "Joey".
Edwin was an avid sportsman. He would tie fishing flies all winter and sell them. Kathryn remembers spending week long vacations in the summer at lodges in the North woods of Wisconsin all because of the profits from selling fishing flies.
Even in her 96th year (2010) Joan McCoy remebered Edwin or "Eddie" well and said he always had a joke for you. Cousin, Barbara (Bruce) Jefferson, remembers him too. Her father, William Bruce was the Superintendent of Sparta Schools and a very close friend of Edwin's. Barb worked the soda counter as a young girl just out of high school. She said Edwin always had a joke for you as well, but sometimes they were a bit racy.
He died of a heart attack at his home, Friday evening, April 23, 1954. He is buried in the Blewett Family plot at Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster, Wisconsin beside his wife Helen.
He taught for two years in Sauk City, Wisconsin before moving to Sparta in 1926. His wife, Helen, moved there in 1930. Edwin taught Manual Training, later to become Industrial Arts and Helen taught Social Studies in the same district. Edwin and Helen eloped and married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, 11 June, 1932. They kept their marriage secret for a couple years because at that time teachers could not be married to other teachers in the same school district, muchless same school. They would spend their summers in Yellowstone National Park working at the Grand Old Yellowstone Lodge. Edwin taught Industrial Arts for 28 years in the Sparta School District. In all those years he had a perfect attendance record, never missing a day. In addition to teaching he also coached track, boxing, basketball and football. Cousin, William Hinton "Bill" Jefferson remembers Coach Blewett well. If coach caught you wearing your cleats other than on the football field he would make you run laps. Edwin caught Bill wearing his in downtown Sparta. He was sure he was caught, but Edwin made no mention of it at the time. Days later Bill had forgotten. Edwin pulled him aside and said "remember last week when you were wearing your cleats downtown? Go run some laps". Bill never forgot to take his cleats off after that. Edwin also liked to build boats in his Shop Classes, upstairs in the old Sparta High School building. The trick was getting the boats out when they were done. He would often tell his students if you can figure out how to get them out of the shop you will get an "A".
He and Helen lived at 210 Court Street in Sparta. After Kathryn Ann was born they purchased the home at 505 Pearl Street, in Sparta where his second wife, Emma lived until 1988. Edwin had married Helen Alice Lotz in June 1932. A little more than a year after her death in 1943 he married Emma Hermina Lorenz. She and Helen were roomates in college. He and Emma had two children together, Etha May, "Meggy" and Joan Mary, "Joey".
Edwin was an avid sportsman. He would tie fishing flies all winter and sell them. Kathryn remembers spending week long vacations in the summer at lodges in the North woods of Wisconsin all because of the profits from selling fishing flies.
Even in her 96th year (2010) Joan McCoy remebered Edwin or "Eddie" well and said he always had a joke for you. Cousin, Barbara (Bruce) Jefferson, remembers him too. Her father, William Bruce was the Superintendent of Sparta Schools and a very close friend of Edwin's. Barb worked the soda counter as a young girl just out of high school. She said Edwin always had a joke for you as well, but sometimes they were a bit racy.
He died of a heart attack at his home, Friday evening, April 23, 1954. He is buried in the Blewett Family plot at Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster, Wisconsin beside his wife Helen.
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