SKANEATELES — Health care has always been a concern in a community. Skaneateles has a rich history of medical doctors going as far back at 1796. This is 34 years before the Village of Skaneateles was incorporated.

A list of  physicians practicing in the Village and Town of Skaneateles  starts with Dr. Jonathan Hall in 1796, and Dr. Samuel Porter is 1797.

Dr. Judah D. Hopkins came to Skaneateles in 1805. The Skaneateles Democrat in a article called “M.D.s Of Early Days,” described Porter and Hopkins as “a brace of rare men, nature’s nobelmen, if nature had nobelmen…powerfully alert with a brain that masters creation.” Dr. Hopkins was thrown from his buggy in October of 1837 and died of his injuries.

Dr. Levi Bartlett announced in the local 1839 Columbian newspaper “having established himself permanently respectfully offers his services to the inhabitants of Skaneateles and vicinity as a Physician and Surgeon. His residence and office (Genesee Street) are the same that was occupied by the late Dr. Hopkins.” He closed his practice 8 years before his death, infirmities of old age compelled him to retire. His 1892 obituary said, “Dr. Bartlett was a leading physician in the community enjoying and extensive practice and making wide acquaintance. He was a gentleman of the old school – thorough, conscientious and painstaking.” Dr. Levi Bartlett was the grandson of Josiah Bartlett, from New Hampshire and the second signer of the Declaration of Independence right after John Hancock.

Dr. Alexander Hammond came to Skaneateles around 1848. Like most new physicians of that time was to advertise his new practice in the local newspaper, as one door west of The Columbian (Newspaper) office. Today this space, 14 E. Genesee St., is occupied by Roland’s clothing store. Another advertisement was for a drug store owned by Dr. Hammond, located at the same address. The ad stated “dealer in drugs, medicines, chemicals, liquors and articles of diet.” A November 1850 ad spoke of the doctor’s new store, in the same location, with R.M. Burnett’s bookstore featuring “a complete assortment of drugs, medicines, wines, liquors, hair dye, hair oils and patent medicines.”

Dr. George T. Campbell came to the village in 1858. He like other doctors of that time had a drug store business located at 36 E. Genesee St., the former location of Hahn’s Drug Store and now the location of Drooz gift shop. In 1874 he sold the store and devoted himself entirely to his practice until his health made him retire. Dr. Campbell was president of the Onondaga County Medical Society, and supervisor of the Town of Skaneateles, and president of the board of education.

Dr. Charles Merrill never carried the typical doctor’s medicine bag. In the 1870s, there were no pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson. However he was never without medicines. He usually walked to work and on the way would gather herbs. Then he would go to the local apothecary and purchased a large quantity of 2 to 4 ounce vials. He would partially fill them with a sugar syrup. Then searching the shelves of the store he would choose a simple and safe drugs to go into each one of the bottles. Some would be enhanced with coloring. When he finished he placed all the vials in side pockets of his large overcoat. Now he was ready to treat his patients. He was best known for treating patients with nervous disorders, most of whom he felt were suffering from imaginary complaints. If a patient approached him on the street and told him of their distressful symptoms, Dr. Merrill would search his pockets for a suitable medicine. He would uncork each bottle, sniff its contents until he found a suitable medicine. He gave it to the patient with proper directions, cautioning that no liquor, beer or strong coffee was to be taken with the medicine.

Doctor Milton Gregg, was a graduate of the University of Maryland Medical School. He served several small communities, including South Onondaga. There he helped organize a telephone company that ‘would make a doctor’s life easier.’ However local doctors sent him letters of protest stating that they can’t get enough sleep as it was. In 1904 he and his wife Sarah and children moved to Elbridge. After several years, when water powered factories closed, he moved upstream to Mottville. Here he became friends with a young man named Charles Major. After a 2 year stint in the Army Medical Corps he came back to Mottville and lived in the house at 4215 Jordan Road, carrying on a very successful practice. He, with his friend Charles T. Major, successfully got the extension of the public waterline to Mottville. An outbreak of cholera had contaminated the area wells. In 1933 Dr. Gregg was fatally struck by a car. In 1934 a monument in front of the Mottville Cemetery was dedicated in his honor. He rests with his wife in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Elbridge.

Dr. Susan J. Taber was admitted to the Onondaga Medical Society in September 1881. Dr. Taber was employed at the Norristown (Pa.) State Hospital for the Insane, Department for Women. She came to Skaneateles in 1900. When the local Women’s Village Improvement Association was organized, Susan Taber was elected secretary.  Dr. Taber bought the house at 62 W. Genesee St. for $6,000. She opened a home for nervous invalids and called the place The Pines. In 1911 she sold The Pines to Elsie and Margaret Waterbury. It is not known if she left then.  She died while visiting a nephew in Ann Arbor, Michigan, April 24, 1917, age 75.

In 1910, Skaneateles physicians adopted a standard fee schedule.

House calls within the village – $1.50. Between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. – $2. Night visits from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. – $3. Outside the village same as above but add $.50 per mile.

Office prescriptions – $0.75. Physical examination of chest – $2. Urinary analysis by microscope- $3. Blood examination by microscope – $3 to $5. Obstetrical attendance – $15 minimum. Gynecology exams and treatment – $1 to $2. Administration of anesthetics – $3 to $5. Compound fractures – $20 to $40. Amputations according to location – $5 to $100. Examinations for lunacy – $5. Telephone consultations – $0.50.

By Jorge Batlle

Skaneateles Village Historian