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Health care
What's on this page:
- 20th- and 21st-century health care professionals and services
- Health care professionals listed in directories, 1900-1940
** The Pharmacists section below contains extra information and images.
PHYSICIANS
Dr. J. E. Barsby, M.D. - 700 Main St. (1922 ad from Ed Merrick)
Dr. Neil J. Devers - 819 Front St., physician (age 55 in 1940 Census) - Dr. N. J. Devers, Freeland (from Billy Kuklis, 1932 FPD Ball program)
Dr. Matthew Drogowski, M.D. - 702 Centre St.
Dr. S.
A. Everett - 523 Centre St. - This ad for his Keep Baby Well Free
Clinic is from 1925.Dr. Harold B. Fear - 513 Washington St., physician, private practice (age 32 in 1940 Census)
Dr. Herman H. Feissner, Jr., M.D. - 634 Centre St.
Dr. J. F. Gallagher, M.D. - 631 Centre St.
Dr. George B. Hudak - 406 Washington St., physician, own practice (age 41 in 1940 Census)
Dr. Gabriel Martyak, M.D. - 838 Washington St.
Dr. William McHugh - 219 Carbon St., physician, own practice (age 44 in 1940 Census)
Dr.
Roy Truckenmiller, M.D. - K of C building (1952 phone
book) Dr. David A. Verba (DDS) - 404 Ridge St.
Dr. Lotzi J. Vercusky, M.D. - 615 Centre St.
DENTISTS
Dr. John J. Brady, Jr. (DDS) - 600 Centre St.
Dr. John B. Della Croce (Penn State 1951; DDS, Temple University School of Dentistry 1955) - 462 Centre St., just below South St.; later at 450 Washington St. (From Dr. Jack Della Croce: My father John B. Della Croce worked with his father Joseph M. Della Croce above Amentler's Bar (now Sorrento's Pizza is in that building). In 1968, he (John B.) moved to 450 Washington Street. I (John J.) joined him in practice in 1981. I purchased and razed the John L. McGraw funeral home building in 1983; purchased and razed the DeFalco building in 2005.)
Dr.
Joseph M. Della Croce - First at 521 Centre St., later at 462
Centre St. (DDS, Temple University School
of Dentistry 1925) The ad at left comes from Ed Merrick. Oscar Polakoff
had just had a new building built for his Paris Store at 521 Centre,
and he rented space there to Dr. Della Croce. Later that building would
become Racusin's. The receipt at right was written to Mrs. Yanochko in
1931 for a payment to Dr. Della Croce.Dr. John J. Della Croce (DMD, King's College 1977, Temple University School of Dentistry 1981) - 450 Washington St.
Dr. Joseph M. Della Croce - 462 Centre St., Rosenthal Bldg., Centre and South Sts. (from Billy Kuklis, 1932 FPD Ball program)
Dr. Joseph M. Della Croce (DDS, Temple University School of Dentistry 1964) - 458 Centre St.
Dr. Melissa B. Della Croce (DMD, King's College 2002, Temple University School of Dentistry 2006) - 450 Washington St.
Dr. Joseph A. Donato (DDS) - 617 Centre St.
Dr. Maurice Gauz, dentist- 523 Centre St.
Dr. Samuel Hess - 923 Centre St., dentist (1910, 1920, 1930 Censuses)
Drs. Reynold and Malcolm Hoch, dentists - 636 Centre St. (From Pat Ferko Miller: They did the exams for the DCM School.)
Dr. William J. McHugh - 602 Centre St., dentist
Dr. D. Emil Soltis, dentist - 420 Johnson St. ('51 Minamek , from Ed Merrick)
Dr. Margaret Soltis, dentist - (From Dr. Jack Della Croce: Please list Dr. Margaret Soltis as the first female dentist to practice in Freeland. She was in practice with her husband Emil.)
Dr. Maria J. Tacelosky (DDS) - 617 Centre St.
Dr. Michael Timko – Balon building, Centre St. – Dentist (1957 ad)
Dr. Lester P. Trevaskis, dentist - 608 Centre St.
Dr. Ambrose A. Whalen - 529 Front St. (from Ed Merrick, 1939 ad)
PHARMACISTS
Ferry's
Drug Store - 517 Centre St. - The Ferry Drugstore – originally
known as the McMenamin & Ferry Drugstore – was founded by Dr.
Frances (Fanny) Ferry (1877-1967) and her brother-in-law John J.
McMenamin (1871-1917) after her initial graduation from Philadelphia
Pharmacy College in 1910. They bought the building at 517 Centre Street
that previously housed the pharmacy of M. E. Grover, who was listed at
that address in Freeland directories at least from 1884 to 1900.
After Fanny retired in 1953 the business was taken over by her nephew
Maurice G. Ferry, Jr., who also had a pharmacy degree and who kept the
shop name Fanny Ferry's and operated it as a Rexall store 30 more
years. Later the store was sold to Rite Aid. The photo at right comes
from Reese Ferry, who says it was probably taken pre-1960. He posted
the photo on facebook and gave permissiont to post it here; commenters
on the facebook page recalled the classical music that was always
playing in the store. Thanks to Brigid McMenamin and Chris Braddock for
some of the information given here.
Greco Apothecary - 704 Main St. (at left)
Michael Krusko – 324 Centre St. – Druggist listed in 1928-1929 directory; served as chairman of the 50th anniversary committee; moving out of the Morris Lavine building on south Centre and into one side of the John Shigo property at 324 Centre to expand his business (1926 newspaper notice)
Nicky Nocchi's - Centre & South Streets. Nicholas Nocchi, Jr. converted his father's variety store into a pharmacy in 1976 when he became a pharmacist. Michael Lacey took over the Nocchi's pharmacy in 1995 and ran it until CVS took it over in 2012. Also see the page about Nocchi's Variety Store.
Seitzinger's
Drug Store - 608 Centre St. (Founded by Robert L. Seitzinger, who
died in 1971, succeeded by his son, William) - ("A good drug store",
'51
Minamek, from Ed Merrick) - (from Billy Kuklis, 1932 FPD Ball program)
- “Ideal Xmas Gifts” Toilet articles, perfumes, ivory sets, writing
papers, manicure sets, and a large assortment of useful articles (1924
ad) – “Where your prescriptions are compounded accurately and
carefully” and also carrying Hallmark greeting cards, and Whitman’s and
Cynthia-Sweet
candies (1957 ad)(From Carolyn Moering: Robert L. Seitzinger built the 3-story building for his pharmacy next to the Fox Bakery, 608 Centre. Would have been about 1918. The family lived upstairs. As I recall, William O. Seitzinger followed his father at the Seitzinger drug store.)
Stanley Vercusky's Drug
Store - 617 Centre St. - (Stanley
Vercusky graduated from MMI and then earned a pharmacy degree at Temple
University. He was Dr. Vercusky's brother and had his store
downstairs from the doctor's office.) (From Liz O'Connor: About
grandpop's store: the store was founded in 1934 at 601 Centre Street.
It later moved to 617 Centre Street. He had earlier lived with his
brother Lotzi Vercusky in Philly, working in a pharmacy to help put his
brother through med school. … They came back to Freeland and Grandpop
opened the store and Lotzi began a Doctor's practice upstairs. During
the early years he really struggled - there were several other
pharmacies in town and starting a new one was risky. But in the end he
did well. The place was open everyday, including shorter hours on
sundays. He didn’t take a vacation until sometime in the 70s, when they
closed the store a week to go up the East Coast. Then he retired in
1979. He sold the store to a dentist who's since remodelled and added
onto the building.) (From Carole O'Connor, daughter of Stanley
Vercusky: My father continued the store himself for many years after
"Doc" passed away. The two brothers did help each other through
college, medical and pharmacy school, and also helped their two sisters
go through nurses training. The store's hours were 9 to 9 daily and 9
to 12 on Sundays. My father was always there and ran the business by
himself until he retired.) 
Welsh's Drug Store - 722
Centre St. (Cornelius Welch,
proprietor) - (from Billy Kuklis, 1932 FPD Ball program) - This 1922 ad
advertised Welsh’s Grippe Pills sold there.
"The Largest and
Most Expensive Soda Fountain in Freeland."
Ed Merrick shared a newspaper article with me that recounted the
history of this drugstore and later also ice cream and soda fountain.
Cornelius Welsh began his career in the early 1900s working for
druggist Frank Schilcher just a few buildings down the street - Dr.
Schilcher had had a drug store since 1881. In 1913 Dr. Schilcher sold
his business to his assistant Cornelius, and a year later died and left
his patents to Cornelius, who ran this shop and soon after built
another just up the street, shown at left, and opened a third location
in White Haven. He and his brothers John and Billy ran these
businesses. In the mid-1940s Cornelius sold the remaining drug store
(the one in the photo) to his nephew John B. Welsh, known as 'Doc'. In
1972 Doc died and his wife Rose continued to run the business for
another 15 years or so. Many Freelanders will remember this long-lived
business and the Welsh family who ran it, both as a drug store and as a
popular ice cream and soda fountain. Their CMP sundaes were fabulous.NURSES AND MIDWIVES
(Please suggest additions to this section!)
Mary Remak - Nurse for Dr. Lotzi J. Vercusky, M.D. - 615 Centre St.
Charlotte E. Tancin - R.N., worked private duty for several years, then at St. Joseph Hospital until about 1960, and then at the White Haven State School [This was my mom -- in 1948 she was the only Tancin listed in the phone book, because she needed the listing for work. -- CT]
OPTOMETRISTS
W. A. Bachman - corner Front and Centre Sts. - Jeweler and optometrist, Freeland (from Billy Kuklis, 1932 FPD Ball program) (1923 ad, and 1924 - 1923 ad from Charlie Stumpf)
Dr. Irving Berger and Dr.
Phyllis S. Berger – 600 Centre St. – Optometrists, Eyesight
specialists – “Announce the opening of their offices for the practice
of optometry; eyes examined; glasses fitted correctly” (from Ed
Merrick, 1948 ad at left) (also a 1953 ad)
Dr. Gail C. Fegley – 406
Centre St. – Optometrist (from Ed Merrick, 1949 ad) (also a 1953 ad)Dr. W. H. Fegley – Optometrist (1956 ad)
Dr. D. S. Tannenbaum –
600 Centre St. – Optometrist (from Ed Merrick, 1947 ad)CHIROPRACTORS
Dr. Henry T. Mack - Freeland Road, Butler Township, chiropractor (age 34 in 1940 Census) – 1004 Centre St., formerly in the Refowich building (from Ed Merrick, 1951 ad)
Health care professionals listed in directories, 1900-1940
Physicians
1900-1901 city directory
Physicians in business listings:
Brackett, W. W., physician, Centre, Tel. 122
Garrison, Dr. W. J., physician and dentist
Kalb, physician, Centre
Neale, Dr. H. M., physician, Centre, Upper Lehigh, Tel. 122
Portser, I., physician, Centre
Schilcher, Dr. F., physician and drugs, Centre
Thomason, W. P. O., physician, Tel. 122, Centre
Wentz, Geo. S., physician, Centre
1912 telephone directory
Physicians in general listings:
Dickinson Dr Chas S, r – 175 S Centre
Neale Dr H M, Office – Upper Lehigh
Neale Dr H M, Office – Centre
Redelin Dr A A, Physician – Centre
Truckenmiller Dr R, Physician – 136 Centre
Wentz Dr G L, Physician – Drifton
1917 telephone directory
Physicians in general listings:
Devers, N. J. - 512 Centre
Dickinson, Charles S. - 212 Front
Everett, S. A. - 613 S. Centre
Mayberry, A. P., Phys. - S. Main, Drifton
Mays, Thos H., Phys. - Refowich Bl.
Neale, H. M., Phys. - Upper Lehigh
Neale, H. M., Phys. - 5 Centre
Redelin, A. A., Phys. - 4 Centre
Truckenmiller, R., Phys. - 413 Centre
1921-1922 city directory
Physicians in business listings:
Devers, Neil J. – 516 Centre
Dickinson, Charles S. – 634 Centre
Everett, Shen A. – 613 Centre
Mays, Thomas H. – Refowich Bldg.
Neale, Henry M. – 634 Centre
Redelin, Albert A. – 634 Centre
Rutter, Everett W. – 931 Centre
Truckenmiller, Roy – Birkbeck Bldg.
1928-1929 city directory
Physicians in business listings:
Devers, Neil J., 608 Centre
Everett, Shem A., 402 Adam
Mays, Thomas H., 4-5 Refowich Bldg., 533 Centre
Neale, Henry M., 634 Centre
Redelin, Albert A., Pollakoff Bldg., 521 Centre
Truckenmiller, Roy, 602 Centre
1940 city directory
Physicians in business listings:
Devers, Neil J. - 68 Centre
Drogowski, Wm. J. - 702 Centre
Everett, Shem. A. - 42 Adam
Fear, Harold B. - 612 Main
Feissner, Herman H. - 523 Centre
Gallagher, Jas. F. - 533 Centre
Hudock, Geo. B. - 632 Centre
Lindsay, Jno. W. (osteopathic) - 626 Front
Truckenmiller, Roy - 602 Centre
Vercusky, Lotzi J. - 617 Centre
Dentists
1900-1901 city directory
Dentists in business listings:
Garrison, Dr. W. J., physician and dentist
Hess, S. S., dentist, 37 Centre
Maley, N., dentist, Centre
1912 telephone directory
Dentists in general listings:
Hess Dr S S, Dentist – Centre
Kernan Dr F X, Dentist – Star Theatre Bldg
1917 telephone directory
Dentists in general listings:
Hess, S. S. - 636 Centre
Kernan, F. X. - Refowich Bl.
Maley, N., Dentist - Koons Bl.
1921-1922 city directory
Dentists in business listings:
Dunphy, Patrick H. – Birkbeck Bldg.
Hell, Samuel S. – First National Bank Bldg.
Trevaskis, Lester P. – 512 Centre
Whalen, Ambrose A. – Refowich Bldg.
1928-1929 city directory
Dentists in business listings:
Della Croce, Joseph M. - Pollakoff Bldg., 521 Center
Hess, Samuel S. - 636 Center
Hoch, O. Reynolds - 636 Center
McHugh, William J. - K of C Bldg., 602 Center
Trevaskis, Lester P. - 608 Center
1940 city directory
Dentists in business listings:
DellaCroce, Jos. M. - 462-1/2 Centre
Dunphy, Patk. H. V. - 722 Centre
Gauz, Maurice J. - 523 Centre
McHugh, Wm. J. - 602 Centre
Soltis, Emil D. - 536 Centre
Trevaskis, Lester P. - 608 Centre
Whalen, Ambrose A. - 529 Front
Pharmacists
1900-1901 city directory
Druggists in business listings:
Grover, M. B., drugs and stationery, 59 Centre
Schilcher, Dr. F., physician and drugs, Centre
1912 telephone directory
Druggists in general listings:
Frank & Barber, Inc, Druggists – S Centre
Goodman & Ferry, Druggists – Centre
Goodman & Ferry, Druggists – cor Centre & South
1917 telephone directory
Druggists in general listings:
McMenamin & Ferry, Druggists - 506 Centre
Schlecher's Drug Store - 722 N. Centre [Schilcher's - CT]
1921-1922 city directory
Druggists in business listings:
McMenamin & Ferry – 517 Centre
Seitzinger, Robert L. – 623 Centre
Welsh, Cornelius A. – 722 Centre
1928-1929 city directory
Druggists in business listings:
Krusko, Michael - 324 Center
Seitzinger, Robert L. - 608 Center
Welsh, Cornelius A. - 722 Center, and 500 Johnson
1940 city directory
Druggists in business listings:
Ferry, Fannie - 517 Centre
Seitzinger's Drug Store - 608 Centre
Vercusky, Stanley E. - 617 Centre
Nurses and Midwives
1912 telephone directory
Nurses in general listings:
Denneny Nellie A, Nurse – 222 S Washington
1917 telephone directory
Nurses in general listings:
Denion, Mary T. - 316 S. Washington
1921-1922 city directory
Nurses in business listings:
Denion, Mary T. – 316 Washington
Doggett, Nellie – 1020 Washington
Russell, Mary E. C. – 725 Ridge
1928-1929 city directory
Nurses in business listings:
Bonner, Agnes, 310 Washington
Bonomo, Lucille, 433 Washington
Bonomo, Millie A., 946 Centre
Boscowski, Anna Z., 524 Ridge
Grula, Frances I., 124 Ridge
McNelis, Margaret R., 207 Washington
Ruske, Bertha L., 1041 Birkbeck
Williams, Olwyn M., 720 Birkbeck
1928-1929 city directory
Midwives in business listings:
Pelot, Mary, 222 Washington
1940 city directory
Nurses in business listings:
Banyock, Irene - 182 Alvin
Bechtloff, Irene H. - 1002 Centre
Bonner, Agnes B. - 310 Washington
Erbe, Martha - 929 Ridge
Fisher, Mildred L. - 938 Birkbeck
Gavitsky, Victoria - 938 Pine
Hudah, Anna C. - 609 South
Johnson, Agnes D. - 1131 Birkbeck
Jurica, Olga E. - 426 Centre
Saricks, Alveratta M. - 933 Birkbeck
Sholtis, Lillian - 940 Centre
Veterinarians
1917 telephone directory
Veterinarians in general listings:
Welsh, S. G., Vet. Surg. - Hospital Crossing, Drifton
1940 city directory
Veterinarians in business listings:
Welsh, Saml. G. - 418 Main, Drifton