A "healer" in Edmonton in the 1930s: The story of Howard Kelly

Date: 1935

Ninety First Street, where it meets Jasper Avenue, is only one block long. At the North end of the street was "Dr." Kelly's red brick house. "Dr" Kelly had acquired a reputation as being able to cure almost all of mankind's bodily afflictions. He is listed in Henderson's 1935 Directory.


He would advertise that a mass "Healing" would take place at a given time. People came in such numbers that the street was completely plugged. The first one in was the last one out.


He had several methods to cure people of their ailments. One such that my family fell for consisted of a length of copper wire with a piece of copper attached to one end. The other end was affixed to the big toe of the patient. While the patient lay in bed, the end containing the copper slug was lowered into a stone crock of water. Not just tap water, as that would not work. It had to be distilled water, of which he happened to have plenty on hand.


My Great Grandmother had suffered a stroke, and was paralyzed. It was promised that this treatment would improve her condition. The improvement was undetectable. Whether other patients showed more remarkable results, I cannot say, but "Dr" Kelly had his moment of fame in our community.