Every weekday afternoon, precisely at 4:30, Eddie Harner walks into Humboldts City Hall. For the next two hours, occasionally a little longer, Eddie empties waste-paper baskets, dusts desks and counters, scours floors and tidies up.
His daily chores as the buildings custodian began 43 years ago and, even at 71, Eddie envisions no time soon when he will walk away from the job.
I dont know what wed do without him, said City Administrator Cole Herder.
Before any event in City Hall, Eddie has tables, chairs, everything in place. To his credit, he also keeps himself informed by attending city council meetings, and anything else to do with Humboldt. Local affairs are high on his list of priorities.
During the long growing season bushes that adorn planters on two sides of City Hall and flowers in the historic downtown square, Eddie can be depended upon to make sure they are flourishing.
He was raised on a farm south of Humboldt. The family moved to town in 1966, the year he was graduated from Humboldt High.
Prior to city employment he had jobs as a school crossing guard, washing windows, mowing grass now just at his Mulberry Street home and custodial tasks. The word got around that Eddie was a good hand, one willing to work and, in exemplary fashion, keep what he was assigned neat and clean.
Maggie Herman, then city clerk, was aware of his talents. When City Halls custodian quit, she called Eddie. He never has disappointed.
Humboldt wouldnt be the same without Eddie.
When a volunteer is needed, Eddies consistent answer is Ill do it. At Biblesta last month, as in the past, he spent the morning walking through the crowd making sure everyone who would enjoy the hallmark Christian celebration had a program. I just knew it needed done.
The same is true with other events; count Eddie in. Neighbors also know they have Eddies ear, particularly those on the elderly side who are limited in what they can do.
Though pretty much self-sufficient, Eddie does patronize H & H Grill good breakfast, he says and Stacy Cakes. He also shops at other Humboldt businesses.
A big fan of all going on in town, Eddie eagerly points out upgrades of buildings downtown, many a century or more old that have been refurbished and taken on new businesses, even a candy store and the Allen County Regional Hospital satellite clinic. I really like all thats going on in Humboldt, a common refrain heard around town.
IF HUMBOLDT residents, from the most prominent to those who go about their daily lives mostly unnoticed, have community faces, Eddie is one.
