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A century of care...
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Foundation
The histories of The Doctors' Clinic and the City of Salem were intertwined long before August 6, 1903
when doctors Willis Bent Morse and Charles H. Robertson established
their medical partnership in the 1889 Eldridge Building.
Dr. Morse, an 1891 graduate of Salem's Willamette University
Medical School,
went on to distinguish himself as an early expert in recognizing and
treating Malaria and Typhoid fever, which were prevalent in Salem at the turn
of the century. In 1895 he was recruited to co-found Salem Hospital,
the city's first non-profit hospital, which in 1927 became Salem General Hospital. Dr. Morse was a strong
advocate for improved sanitation with a goal of improving public health
and he was active in civic affairs, including a term as President of the
State Board of Health.
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Much of Dr. Morse's time was devoted to house calls for common
illnesses as well as complaints that today require a trip to the
emergency room, though patients with minor ailments might visit his
office. Most babies were delivered at home-- hospitals were for
gravely ill or surgical patients. Aspirin was invented in 1897 and
blood types were isolated in 1901, making transfusions and surgeries
that had been highly dangerous almost routine.
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Dr. Robertson
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Dr. Morse
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With Salem's
population passing 5,000, Dr. Morse needed a partner. Dr. Charles H.
Robertson, a 34-year-old graduate of Willamette and Rush College
with post-graduate study at the Mayo Clinic was gaining a reputation in
Salem
as a gifted surgeon. In August of 1903 he joined Dr. Morse in the Eldridge Building. Their office
overlooked broad Commercial
Street traveled by booted men, wagons, and
women discreetly gathering skirts to dodge mud, horse droppings and
other things best avoided.
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Holman Bldg
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During the early thirties there was a
concerted effort on the part of the partnership to build a new Hospital
and Salem General
Hospital was the
result of their efforts. It was brand new and had the most up to date
equipment that they could furnish it with. Soon Dr. Morse was named
Chief of Staff.
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The Guardian Building,
which was once home to the clinic, burned on November 3, 1947. The fire
started in the basement under the Quisenberry Pharmacy and went up
the elevator shaft where it involved the fourth and fifth
floors. Get an idea of what Oregon looked like in the 1940’s by touring
a special Oregon archives collection.
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Guardian Bldg
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After the Guardian Building
fire, the doctors worked out of both Salem General and Salem Deaconess Hospitals until they were able
to have a new building built at 2475 Center Street NE where the
clinic would remain for the next 50 years. It was thought prudent to adopt a
name for the partnership and "The Doctors' Clinic" became the
official name which has been used since the opening of the clinic on Center Street,
but it’s roots go back to 1903 when Dr.
Morse and Dr. Robertson joined as partners.
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The Doctors' Clinic, Center
St
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The Doctors' Clinic, Skyline
Village Loop
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In 1996 The Doctors' Clinic had a new
building built to accommodate expansion and moved to its present
location. Our clinic's longevity
is only one of many reasons why our patients entrust their health care
to us. We hope you’ve enjoyed
this glimpse into our past.
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Read more on the history of The Doctors' Clinic here
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