DOCTOR McCREERY'S HOSPITAL

Did you know that Whittemore once had its own hospital?  When I was doing research on hospitals in Algona, I came across an article mentioning a hospital there and made up my mind that someday I was going to dig a little deeper.  I have discovered that it all came about because of well-loved physician J. W. McCreery.

From "Whittemore, Iowa 100 Years 1878-1978"

John W. McCreery was born near Dana, Iowa in 1877 to Scotch-Irish parents.  While still a young boy his family moved to Churdan where he grew up.  He received his medical degree from Drake University in 1898.  That same year he married Elizabeth Chalus who was described as a “petite French beauty” from Clare, Iowa.  He practiced medicine in Pioneer for one year before moving to Whittemore in 1900.  It would be his home for the next 49 years.

Whittemore Champion
December 7, 1906

The doctor hung out his shingle in an office over the Lien Drug Store on Broad Street.  He charged 50 cents for office calls and $1 for home visits in town.  Calls in the country cost $2 and were made with a horse and buggy over rough country roads which were markedly worse in winter and early spring.  He owned one team of horses but often had to rent a fresh team if he had to make a second call the same day.  He would charge $10 for an obstetrical call in the country which included the $2 visit fee.  If he had to rent a team, he would pay $4 so his profit margin was pretty slim, especially considering that labor and delivery could take 14 hours or more.

A doctor had to be prepared for almost anything.  On call 24 hours a day, he often delivered babies by the light of a kerosene lamp and performed surgeries such as appendectomies and tonsillectomies in his office or the homes of patients. Winter travel could be harrowing and was often by sleigh or bobsled.  Dr. McCreery covered a territory that extended in a ten mile radius around Whittemore.  He often saw patients in Fenton, Lotts Creek and Fairville.  In 1911 he purchased a Model T to replace the horse and buggy which made his traveling much easier.

On November 16, 1901, the McCreerys welcomed a daughter, Ruth Aileen, into the world.  Ruth grew to be a happy and cheerful child with a ready smile. The summer following her fifth birthday, she contracted measles from which it seemed she could not recover.  Despite the best medical care obtainable, she died from tubercular meningitis on August 9, 1907.  Shortly thereafter, the McCreerys moved to another house.  The memories of the home where Ruth had grown up must have been too much to bear.  This would not end up being their last move.

In 1912, the residence of Thomas Carmody came on the market.  Carmody was a cashier for the Whittemore State Bank and active in the community.  This spacious dwelling was built in 1901 at a cost of $2,000.  It was teasingly referred to as the “Blarney Castle” due to its size.  The elegant home contained all the most modern conveniences including steam heat and gas lights.  Located at the corner of Broad and Third Street in Whittemore, it was within very easy walking distance of Dr. McCreery’s office.

The Carmody/McCreery house in 2018

By this time the McCreerys had added another daughter to their family.  Born in August of 1911, Catherine brought new joy to the couple.  Their house was once again filled with the sounds of growing, happy little girl.

To help care for Catherine and the large home, the McCreerys employed area girls as domestics.  The Roeber family had come to Whittemore from Germany.  One of their daughters, Anna, came to live with the McCreerys as a housekeeper.  At around 6 a.m. on Sunday, June 20, 1915, Anna rose and began to start a fire in the kitchen stove.  Mrs. McCreery and young Catherine were out of town and Dr. McCreery was asleep upstairs.  Anna was using kerosene to start the fire.  When the fire flared, flames caused the can to explode suddenly, scattering blazing oil over the girl’s clothing and the kitchen around her.

Anna ran from the home with her clothing ablaze and down the street, apparently headed to her own home.  A neighbor saw her, grabbed a horse blanket and smothered the flames, but not before she incurred horrible burns.  Meanwhile, Dr. McCreery, hearing the commotion downstairs, hurriedly dressed and ran downstairs to find the kitchen on fire and Anna nowhere to be found.  Paying no heed to the fire, he ran from the house to find her.  The firemen were called once Anna had been found.  Dr. Cretzmeyer was called from Algona to assist McCreery in ministering to the patient whose pain and suffering was intense.  There was little they could do due to the severity of her wounds and she died shortly after three o’clock that afternoon. 

Headline from
Kossuth County Advance
June 23, 1915

Sadness once again filled the McCreery household.  They considered the young woman a member of their own family and her loss from an accident that occurred in their home was devastating.  As for their house, damage had been contained to the kitchen.  Although the entire room was charred, it was theorized that it did not spread to other areas of the house because with all the windows and doors shut there was little or no draft.  Dr. and Mrs. McCreery remained close to the Roeber family and another daughter, Emma, would work for them for over 40 years.

It was the next year that Dr. McCreery decided to build an office with a garage on the lot adjacent to his house on the west.  By 1917 he realized that there was a true need for hospital beds in the community and so he converted the garage to a 3-bed hospital.  Nurse Ella Burke was placed in charge of the facility.  He installed the latest equipment including an x-ray machine.  The newspapers are filled with articles of patients who spent time in McCreery’s hospital.  There was seldom a time when the beds were not occupied.

The McCreery office/hospital in 2018

The most difficult years of the physician’s practice were 1918 to 1920 during the flu epidemic which swept across the nation.  McCreery later recalled that he often went 24 hours without meals and 36 without sleep in order to care for his patients. 

Dr. McCreery was known to be utterly honest.  If he felt he could not help a patient he quickly referred them to a specialist.  A physician from Mayo Clinic stated that they had never known the doctor to make an error in diagnosis of a patient.  Quite a recognition for a small town doctor.

Once again tragedy visited the McCreery home.  In November of 1924 Catherine became ill with gastro-enteritis, also known as intestinal flu.  Despite the care and consultation of many area physicians, she died at the age of 13.  Her obituary stated, “No death ever upset this community in such a manner as did the death of this estimable child.  She had a very keen insight into what was right and wrong and always to be found in the right.  There was not a selfish thing about the girl, in fact, she was generous to a fault.  She always wanted to do something for those who were in need.  She was very fond of little children and usually had a few of them around her wherever she happened to be, in her home, on the street, at school.”

On the morning of her funeral, her classmates at the Presentation Academy marched to her home and accompanied the body to the church.  Other pupils lined the three blocks from her home to the church.  Following services at St. Michael’s church, Catherine was buried next to her sister Ruth at the parish cemetery.  It must have been particularly heartbreaking for the doctor who saved so many others but was unable to save his own daughter.

The good doctor was known for his generosity.  He did little to collect what he was owed by widows or young couples with money troubles.  It was estimated that he had over $40,000 on the books during the years of the Great Depression, most of which was forgiven and forgotten.  He had a special love for children.  Every child who left his office received a nickel to buy an ice cream cone. 

As years passed, Dr. McCreery’s own health began to fail.  Diabetes and heart disease took their toll.  In 1944 he suffered a heart attack.  His recovery took four months after which he returned to answering calls any time of the day or night.  His dedication to the community did not go unnoticed. 

Whittemore Champion
September 25, 1946

In 1948 a celebration of his 50 years was hosted by the Whittemore Community Club.  Over a thousand friends and patients turned out to reminisce and congratulate the doctor.  The highlight of the evening was the presentation of a new Buick automobile to him.  During his comments, he stated that he felt as though he could continue practicing another 50 years.

McCreery kept the same pace with office hours from 8 to 6.  He continued to deliver babies and was on call 24/7.  On Tuesday, February 1, 1949, even though he himself was not feeling well, he kept all his appointments and saw all patients who needed his attention.  The following day his own illness forced him to remain in bed.  His faithful nurse, Ella Burke, who had worked for him for over 30 years stopped in to see him.  He sent her to the office for some medicine.  As she approached his bedroom on her way back she heard him breathing heavily and then entered the suddenly quiet room.  Dr. McCreery had breathed his last.

His funeral service was held the following Saturday morning with four priests presiding.  A huge crowd attended with the overflow mourners being seated in the Presentation Academy hall. 

Dr. McCreery was the last resident physician for the town of Whittemore.  The hospital closed along with his office.  His wife continued to live in their large home with Emma Roeber as her housekeeper. Mrs. McCreery quietly passed away on April 23, 1956 after suffering a stroke.

The good doctor left quite a legacy behind.  He delivered over 5,000 babies during his career and lost only five mothers in childbirth.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, a director of the Whittemore State Bank and served as a city councilman.  He was also a staunch supporter of the new St. Ann’s Hospital which he did live to see completed.

His obituary contained the following tribute: “Those who profess to know say that no man is irreplaceable.  They are so wrong.  No one will ever replace Doctor McCreery in the affections of the people of this community, nor will a finer physician and friend ever be found in a country doctor.”

Until next time,

Kossuth County History Buff

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