Who Knew?

In 1894 Dr. Gilbert Hess, MD and DVS, and J. L. Clark, a salesman for the R. E. Myers and Brothers Pump Co., formed a partnership. Clark bought half interest in Hess’s very small veterinarian compounding company for $250. The company, Dr. Hess and Clark of Ashland Ohio, would develop into the leading supplier of medicines for animals and poultry by 1920. Their famous udder ointment was a staple medical treatment of the time, including for the treating human skin irritations. [Sources: <http://ashlandohiogenealogy.org/hessclark.html> <http://www.centerstreethistoricdistrict.org/thehessandclarkfactory-10e7thstreet.html>]

Fast forward to the late 1960s, Sue and I know Hess & Clark as a veterinary research lab located on the outskirts of Ashland. We did not connect it with the shell of a factory on a two acre plot on East 7th St., or with a senior care home that was one of a number of mansions on Center Street. It took a recent visit to that home to see Sue’s sister for us to put it all together.

The original building of LLS Good Shephard Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation was the mansion J. R. Clark built in 1918. Even though the original home has been well used as a senior care facility over the last 70 years and significantly modified and expanded to serve that purpose, the quality and lavishness of the original home is still evident in a few first floor rooms. These rooms are paneled in select hard wood from the floors to their sculptured ceilings, accented by alabaster and marble fireplaces, stained glass and oriental rugs. Tarracotta floor tile set in a marble border, walls of glass paneled doors, and two bronze and milk glass lamps highlight the entry.

The front staircase and surrounding walls are finished in mahogany.

The large receiving room / library also was paneled in mahogany, including the book cases with caved details, fireplace and the floors in the room.

The dining room is paneled entirely in walnut. Note the carved panels (clusters of nuts and fruit with a pheasants in the upper corners) surrounding the portrait of Mr. Clark over the fireplace. Pink marble is inset around the fireplace legs and header, and into the hearth. The dining room table (covered), seats 20 and also is solid walnut.

Mrs. Clark’s portrait hangs over the mahogany fireplace in her sitting room.

The lasting beauty and durability of these rooms over the last 100 years, speaks to the quality of the workmanship. No cracked or warped panels and no joints have opened.

P.S. In about 1970, my mother-in-law gave me Hess & Clark udder ointment to put on a burn. I was very skeptical, to say the least, but it worked very well.