For further information contact us at: 320-274-8489, e-mail pioneerp@lakedalelink.net or fax 320-274-9612.


Many of these artifacts came from the offices of Dr. A.M. Ridgeway and Dr. L.H. Bendix of Annandale.  Dr. Ridgeway practiced medicine in Annandale from 1890 until the 1940s.  Dr. Bendix joined him in 1929.  Both were highly respected and beloved men in the community.
 
Before the age of family cars, doctors made house call in their buggies.  If a patient was sick enough to need a doctor, he was to ill to travel.  The pioneer doctor even did surgery in a patient's home if necessary.  (Note the case of surgical saws in the cabinet).  Babies were born at home -- sometimes with the doctor assisting.  Oftentimes, though, a neighbor or even only husband would be there at the time of the birth.

Some diseases that are almost unheard of today were common and life-threatening, such as diphtheria, scarlet fever, and small pox.  They were so contagious that a "Quarantine" was posted and the family was isolated for the duration of the illness.  Even such maladies as influenza, pneumonia, and measles could be fatal.  Better sanitation practices and post-WWII antibiotics have enabled health care practitioners to almost eliminate deaths due to these illnesses.

19) Doctor's Office