Doctoring, healthcare in 1958 McCook

Susan Doak

Southwest Nebraska Genealogy Society

The City Directories of McCook are a great source for identifying people or businesses and their locations. When I give an address, remember that the east side of a street was normally an odd number and the west, even. On east/west streets, the odd number was on the north side of the street, even on the south.

Before nursing homes became big business, the aged were often cared for in private homes or in wings attached to a hospital. In McCook during 1958, the only listing under nursing homes was Brooks Home for the Aged, located at 519 Norris Ave. Fannie M. Brooks, widow of Ivan C. Brooks, is listed as the owner.

When it came to private nursing care, three individuals were listed: Mrs. May Burger, living at 1320 East A; Mrs. Virginia Hodgkin, living at 302 W. Second and Fannie S. Frantz, living at 401 East 11.

Jack Molsbee owned the McCook Dental Laboratory at 111 ½ East C Street. He no doubt did work for the following dentists: Benjamin Dennis, Suite A-6, J.C. Penny building; Yule Dorwart, 303 E. First; Ray Langfeldt, Suite 1, J.C. Penny building; H.R. McKinty and L.R. Blank, 209 West C; Holger Nielsen, 120 West C; Theodore Schoeni (my dentist who also used hypnotism), 111 East C.

Lawrence Burns at 811 Norris Avenue is listed as a chiropodist (hand and foot doctor). One chiropractor, W. R. Caine, was located in the J. C. Penny Building, Suite No. 4. (One has to remember that the building they are talking about is the southwest corner of Norris Avenue and C Street.) You could even get a massage in McCook at the time by calling Merle Patterson residing at 1202 Norris Avenue.

Need a prescription filled? Retail druggists included: A & M Rexall, 205 Norris Avenue; Jack Kidd's Pharmacy, 324 Norris Avenue; McMillen Drug, 219 Norris Avenue; and Prest Drug, 301 Norris Avenue.

If you go by only who is listed under physicians and surgeons, McCook had the following: Louis Dickinson Jr. and Earl Leininger, both at 114 East C; Harold Donaldson Jr. at 302 ½ Norris Avenue; Robert Jones, 217 ½ Norris Avenue; Donald Furman, 513 Norris Avenue; and George Montgomery, 116 West C. Having doctored in McCook as a child, I knew there were more! Donal H. and Donal F. Morgan had their office at 305 E. First. F.M. Karrer, who also happened to be the city manager at the time, was in the McCook Clinic building, 110 East C, as was Frederic Shank.

The hospital, St. Catherine of Sienna, of course, was located at 1204 W. Fourth and the Dominican Sisters were in charge of its management and operation. Their living quarters were directly across the street at 1205 W. Fourth, not to be confused with the nuns associated with St. Patrick's Catholic Church and school, whose convent was located at 609 E. Third.

This Saturday, Oct. 3, will be the SWNGS monthly meeting, 110 West C, Suite M-3 starting at 1 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 17, we will be hosting our second annual genealogy expo, with A Day with Genealogy," featuring Linda Hein covering orphan train riders in Nebraska. There will also be Sharleen Wurm and Dick Carman speaking about the Last Indian Raid Museum. In addition, several small group classes will be offered. Register through our Facebook PDF form, or with the ad in the Oct. 2 issue of the McCook Gazette or by calling 308-340-8221. You don't want to miss this expo!