Fabian "Fabe" Sheehan started Sheehan's Plumbing & Heating
in 1939. In 1952 Fabe added the propane gas service as a
sideline.
In late 1952 Fabe went full-time into the propane
business, selling his plumbing & heating business to Fritz
Fernkes. Also in 1952. Fabe built the propane bulk
plant located east of Bird Island on Hwy 212.
In the beginning, the business was called Sheehan's
Shellane Service. This lasted for only one year as Fabe
had to pay Shell Petroleum one cent per gallon, just to use the
Shell name and logo.
When Fabe dropped the Shell name he started buying from an
independent wholesaler, and changed the company name to
Sheehan's Gas Company, as it is today.
In 1969, Bird Island Mayor Setzepfandt met with Fabe
Sheehan to discuss the possibility of bringing natural gas into
Bird Island. At this same time, Mike Sheehan, Fabe's son
was attending Southern Technical Institute, in Marietta Georgia,
studying the gas business. It just so happened that Mike's
class project was designing a municipal natural gas distribution
system. So as his class project Mike designed the Bird
Island natural gas distribution system. It was exactly
what Bird Island needed, so in late 1969, the gas distribution
system that Mike designed, was installed in Bird Island.
In 1989, the Sheehan Gas Company ran a six-inch natural
gas pipeline from Hector to Buffalo Lake. In 1992
Sheehan's continued the pipeline from Buffalo Lake to Stewart.
At present the Sheehan's provide natural gas service to both
Buffalo Lake and Stewart.
Sheehan's Gas service employs seven people, which includes
Mike Sheehan and his son, Todd. Fabe has since retired and
spends the winter months in Texas. Fabe Sheehan and wife,
Lorraine, have eight children, thirty grandchildren and ten
great-grand children. The interesting fact about the
Sheehan generations is that there is an even mix of males and
females. Fabes, s children, four boys and four girls.
His grandchildren, fifteen boys and fifteen girls. His
great-grandchildren, five boys and five girls.
Mike Sheehan has four children: Todd, works with his dad,
Mike in the gas business: Paul works with an Indy Race Team;
Lisa manages six Express Clothing stores in the Minneapolis area
and Chad is a pilot training in Minneapolis, learning to become
a commercial airline pilot.
Recently, Mike was presented the G. F. Bursinger
Distinguished Service Award by the Minnesota Propane Gas
Association (MPGA). This award was presented by the MPGA
for outstanding service to the propane gas industry in
Minnesota.
