Some Early Sources of Medical Care for Terrace Parkers

By Esther H. M. Power

        Until incorporation Terrace Park area residents depended on outside sources for medical care.  Although Cincinnati had become a medical center with medical schools, hospitals, drug companies and pharmacies, patients looked for some help closer to home.

        Newspapers, magazines and Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogues offered articles on home medical care advice as well as advertisements for a wide range of pills and potions, some of dubious value and some topical ointments said to be equally effective for humans and beasts. 

        By the late 1860s 1870s and 1880s Terrace Park’s incorporated neighboring communities had begun providing medical care.  Madisonville and Newtown had pharmacies.  Dr. W. W. Highlands, of the Wooster Pike Highlands family, was a physician and surgeon in Newtown who opened his office as early as 1849 and continued to see patients for many, many years.

        Dr. Charles Metz, who combined his office and home on Madison Road in Madisonville, made occasional house calls by horse and buggy to Terrace Park and beyond, combining the visit with his archaeological observations.   In 1879 he earned $1,787.50 from his medical practice.  His payment was not always in cash. 

In Milford Dr. Richard Belt, an 1873 Ohio Medial College graduate, practiced medicine for fifty some years with his medical office in his home in what became in recent years the Millcroft Inn.  Although living in Milford his ties extended beyond those borders.  He served as Junior Warden of St.  Thomas Church when it was in Montauk and continued to serve when the new church was built in Terrace Park in 1907. 

Just before incorporation Dr. Robert G. Langsdale purchased the brand new house at 609 Amherst Avenue in 1892.  He made his medical office in his home available to the new village council for its meetings.  Perhaps the office there explains why there are seemingly two front doors in the house.

    Although little as yet is known about him, he is pictured in a GAR group photo in Milford but not specifically identified.  For whatever reason, Dr. Langsdale sold his house in 1897 and left the village to practice elsewhere.   Council rented the second floor of 415 Terrace Place for its chambers.

Following Dr. Langsdale, Dr. James H. Hazard, who was born in Logansport, Indiana in 1844 and graduated from medical school in 1867, arrived in Terrace Park in 1893 when he purchased 101 Miami Avenue for his home.   Between 1882 and 1886 he had taught physiology in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery.   He kept his medical office in Cincinnati. 

Joining St. Thomas Church when it was still in Montauk, Dr. Hazard served on the vestry with Dr. Belt.  He could watch the building of the new church across from his house. 

An undated and so far undocumented brief account of 101 Miami’s connection to medical care follows.

Living in the house a Dr. Savage contracted with the railroad company to provide medical aid to train passengers.  A lighted lamp behind a red glass pane signaled that the doctor was in.  If a passenger needed care, the train would stop and blow its whistle to summon the doctor.

 By 1903 a dentist arrived to live and practice in the village.  Dr. Oliver T. Robertson, born 1872, designed his own house and dental office at 602 Miami Avenue with a separate entrance on Amherst Avenue.   He owned the house for fifty years after becoming the third early doctor to serve on St. Thomas Church vestry.   He went on to become mayor of the village 1912-1915.

Through the years other doctors and dentists have called Terrace Park home, but the current zoning code does not permit their offices in residential areas.  Although EMS and 911 help in medical emergencies, it is once again necessary to leave the village for most other doctoring needs.