Friday, April 11, 2008

Dr. Raymond Babcock House


Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004, this was home to a man whose influence is felt in Willits even today, nearly half a century after his death. He was a "country" doctor only in the sense that he served the needs of a rural area in whatever medical capacity was required - pediatrics, obstetrics, general surgery, oncology, internal medicine, emergency trauma, you name it. But he kept very up-to-date on the latest developments and techniques of his time, and was superb at diagnosis, and, in short, was the driving force behind the creation of the hospital in town. He had served as a medic in World War I, and as a member of the American Legion, helped organize the original annual Frontier Days Rodeo as a community fundraiser. There's a book coming out about him soon; I can barely mention all that could be said. I will add that he "knew" the racehorse Seabiscuit personally, and cared for his jockey Red Pollard after a severe injury.

In more recent years, I recall seeing Dr. Babcock's son-in-law, George Akins, out in this yard. He would trim these hedges while wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, thin dark tie, light wool suit trousers, and a fedora. Another decent and intelligent man, honoring the legacy of his esteemed father-in-law. George died not long after his wife, Jane Babcock Akins, several years ago.

6 comments:

Ken said...

Sounds like an amazing man.

USelaine said...

Thanks Ken. From all reports, he really was.

slim said...

Wonderful post. Country doctors sure did it all . . . When was the house built? Do any decendents live there now?

Isadora said...

:) I can just see him cutting the hedges. Great word picture.

Thank you for visiting. Where is Sator Hegy? This house was a full time residence for two families - ours and my aunt's, but over the years as we grew and moved away only my uncle remained and he passed away 5 years ago - so it had been vacant and a great place to rediscover.

USelaine said...

slim: I think this house was built in the 1930s, but I'm not positive. The people that inherited the house made a solid try of setting it up as a historic house museum, but the latest sad news is, it's not going to happen. I don't know what will happen to it now.

Isadora: Sator Hegy rises above Satoraljaujhely, off in the Zemplen. They have tent shaped mountains there. I lived there for two years in the mid-90s. I miss the people, and food, and architecture... Hungary is a lovely country.

USelaine said...

New information says this house was built in 1905.