The first physician to settle in Huron was Dr. Ansolem Gutherie, who practiced in the village from 1813 to 1817 before leaving for Canada. Dr. Charles H. Legget arrived in Huron in 1830. He and his wife drowned in the Huron River when their small boat overturned May 29, 1832. After the Leggets’ death Dr. George Haskin began his practice in 1832 and died in his home on Center Street in 1885. He treated many of the cholera patients when the disease struck the village in 1834. Dr. Joseph Caldwell followed him in 1833 and practiced until his death in 1866. Dr. J.T. Cushing practiced in Huron from 1865 to 1881, and Dr. H.E. McNutt came in 1874. (Video: Julia Remington Haskin, Afternoon in the Huron Cemetery, 2017)
Loren Leidheiser, D.O. came to Huron with his wife, Doris Kishman, from Vermilion in 1935. He residence and office were on Liberty Drive. Dr. Leidheiser, who was called “Doc” by his friends, helped establish Sandusky Memorial Hospital, was a founding member of the Huron Rotary (1941) and a charter member of the Huron Historical Society. He was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Huron Board of Education and active in the Huron Presbyterian Church. He died in 1989 at age 78.The first physician to practice medicine at the house on the corner of Williams St. and Cleveland Road was Dr. J.P. Esch, who built the house in 1881 to use as his residence and office. Dr. Hugh L. Judge joined Dr. Esch in 1892 but relocated his practice to Norwalk in 1898. Dr. William Pollock came to Huron that same year and bought the house and office from Dr. Esch. He practiced medicine in Huron for the next 27 years. Dr. Carl E. Swanbeck, the husband of state legislator Ethel Swanbeck, lived and practiced in the building from 1925 to 1980. He was joined in 1950 by Dr. Richard Williamson and by his son, surgeon Dr. Carl R. Swanbeck that same year. The last physician to practice in the building was Dr. Williamson's son, Thomas, who moved into a new building in the mid 1980s where he still practices. One of Carl R.’s granddaughters and family live in the house/office today.Pictured is Dr. Carl E. Swanbeck making a house call in 1945. Another physician who began practicing in the early 1920s was Dr. F.E. Reed who opened his practice above Brown’s Garage in 1922. He purchased a large home on Main Street and added an office to the structure in 1927. The house was next to the Parkland Hotel, later named the Huron Hotel. Both buildings were demolished during urban renewal.Dr. Reed practiced until his death in 1953.Richard Williamson, M.D. came to Huron in 1950 after serving in WWII as a medical officer. In addition to practicing medicine, Dr. Williamson was a prolific stage actor who was a frequent cast member at the Huron Playhouse as well as serving as the company’s physician for 35 years. He also helped establish the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo. Dr. Williamson is pictured (second from left in front) in the1954 Huron Playhouse performance of Hamlet.
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