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, 1910, by Doctor D. A. Elwell who read a paper entitled "Philantrophy and Dentistry."  The President of the Society, Doctor 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 seven Executive Secretaries:

  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 -   Marie Fox

 Equally essential to the success of the Dispensary is the loyalty and guidance of the Board.  By coincidence, there have been seven Board Presidents as well as seven 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 twenty 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.