Doc. Hinkley - Dentist

         Doc. graduated from University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1893.  His dental office was located upstairs in the former Olney Bank Building, located on the corner of Main and Center Streets, as one of the early business occupants.  (This bank has changed ownership through the years and has also been known as Van Buren State Bank, First of America Bank, and currently known as National City Bank)   In 2002, the upper floor of the bank building remains unoccupied by tenants.  The lettering  Dentist remains on the west front-upper floor window of the bank building, as does the memory of a dentist who refused to give up his practice until his permanent retirement from this earth in the 1970s.  

         The Van Buren Historical Society replicated Doc. Hinckley's office and it is on display at the Van Buren Historical Museum on Red Arrow Hwy, just east of Hartford. 

         Roy M. Davis has interesting comments in his book, Paw Paw River Times & People, Volume 1, and his latest book,  Paw Paw River Days and Nights, about Doc. Hinckley, his practice, his wife, Jennie, and the house he lived in until his death.  Both books are available at the Hartford Public Library.
 

I was small when Doc. had buggy horses, well, his horses that pulled his buggy's.  He also raced every year at the fair, so you got to know they were very good ones.  I remember one that he would exercise in the lot behind Grandpa Clark's barn.  It would get away from him, race down the drive past the house, and out on Shepard street with Doc. in hot pursuit yelling a few choice words.  He always caught him, but could that horse go!  At that time, Shepard street was dirt only and it was my job to stand in front of the house with a garden hose to dampen the dirt down so dust wouldn't get into the house.  I am sure someone has told you, but all of Main street in front of the stores, was hand-laid brick.  I think they just paved over it finally - too bad.

Donnalee Kabel Houser HHS 1953