The History of the Dental Center
In 1908, Doctor Ebersole of Cleveland talked before the Toledo Dental Society on dental dispensary work. About the same time, Doctor L. I. Zarbaugh of Toledo urged the formation of a society or clinic to care for indigents. As a result, at the instance of a small group of dentists who had become interested in the subject, the need for a dental clinic providing service for the poor children of the city was brought to the attention of the Toledo Dental Society in October of 1910, by Dr. D. A. Elwell who read a paper entitled "Philanthropy and Dentistry". The President of the Society, Dr. J. W. Hartshorn, was empowered to appoint a committee to arrange for such a clinic.
For two years, the Toledo Free Dental Clinic functioned more or less satisfactory with purely volunteer service by members of the Dental Society. Then, in 1912, the Board of Education took over the work for the school children and the clinic was moved to the Jefferson School building where the work was carried on by dentists employed by the Board.
In 1920, when the Community Chest was organized, Mr. A. A. Guild of the Social Service Federation and Miss Emma Roberts of the District Nurse Association urged the formation of a dental dispensary to give care to indigent adults. The Toledo Dental Dispensary was organized and incorporated under:
Mrs. Zora Bowman, President
Mr. T. A. DeVilbiss, 1st Vice President
L. L. Barber, D. D. S., 2nd Vice President
Rev. Karl Alter, Secretary
Mr. Pratt Tracy, Treasurer
(soon succeeded by Mr. Louis Kern as Treasurer)
Other trustees elected were:
J. J. Welker, D. D. S., Charles Feilbach
Miss Grace Frost, P. Bruce Brookway, M. D.
A. A. Guild, Mrs. June Guild
D. A. Elwell, D. D. S. , J. A. Cowell
Miss Emma Roberts, Frank Saxton
Charitable organizations throughout the city were notified and the number of patients rose from 152 during the three months of 1920 to 1,417 in 1921. From 1,417 in 1921-22, it rose to 4,424 in 1958-1959.
None of these accomplishments could have been achieved without the loyal support of the staff, the Board, and many other friends of the Dispensary.
The Dispensary has had eleven Executive Secretary-Directors:
1920 - 1923 Ruth Mendenhall
1923 - 1925 Mildred Lesher
1925 - 1928 Mrs. Howard Schafer
1928 - 1943 Mrs. Martha Bayless
1943 - 1946 Dorothy Stout
1946 - 1949 Adelene Haas
1949 - 1982 Marie Fox
1983 - 1984 Alicia G. Kalile
1984 - 1992 Karis Box
1992 - 1999 Leslie Matthews
1999 - Present Melinda Cree
Equally essential to the success of the Dispensary is the loyalty and guidance of the Board. There have been twelve board Presidents and eleven Executives.
The Dispensary's list of Presidents:
1920 - 1927 Zora Bowman
1927 - 1943 Dr. Ella Marx
1943 Mrs. Allen Owen
1943 - 1946 Helen Whitmore Ertel
1946 - 1951 Mrs. Allen Owen
1951 - 1953 Mrs. George Urschel, Jr.
1953 - 1957 Mrs. William R. Prickman
1957 Mrs. I. A. Ludwig
One of the notable characteristics of the Dispensary Board is the long and unbroken Board service of several of its members. Among the present members, special recognition and appreciation are due to the following individuals, who joined the Board in the years indicated:
Honorary Trustee:
1925 - Ella Marx, M. D.
Consulting Trustees:
1920 - Miss Grace Frost
1921 - J. D. Sullivan, D. D. S.
1926 - Ernest N. Bach, D. D. S.
1931 - W. S. Sargeant, D. D. S.
1940 - Ralph W. Helms, D. D. S.
Members serving 20 years or more:
1921 - Robert Vollmayer, D. D. S.
1923 - Eva H. Shapiro, D. D. S.
1929 - F. A. Fleischmann
1938 - Msgr. Norbert Shumaker
1939 - Henry D. Cossitt, D. D. S.
1940 - Donald E. Bowers, D. D. S.
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