Zurich Citizens News, 1977-09-28, Page 7A talk with Hensail's Dr, J.C. Goddard
Citizens News, September 28, 1977
Page 7
A country doctor has to be agood listener
Dr. John Goddard of Hensall
was always a good listener, As a
result, he dispensed comforting
words as often as prescriptions
during the 30 -year practice that
ended in March.
In course of that time he
helped bring 1,400 babies into the
world. On September 18 many of
them came with their own
children to a party in his honour
at the Pineridge Chalet.
Dr. Goddard was born in
Palmerston, named Helen
Meston.
He joined the Royal Canadian
Air Force in 1940 and served five
years, nine months and six days.
"Everybody knows when they
finished", he said, Most of the
time was spent in Calgary.
Briefly, after the war, he prac-
tised as a partner of Dr. William
Sproat of Seaforth. In 1945 he
came to Hensall, bought the
MacDonnell house and converted
Dr. J.C. Goddard
Stettler, Alberta. He received
his degree in medicine from the
University of Alberta at Edmon-
ton in 1938, then interned at
Hamilton.While there he met and
married a nurse from
Chamber of Commerce
Lottery Draw
$1,000 BILL
DRAW ON
Sat., Dec. 3
Tickets $5.00 Each
500 to be Sold
Tickets Available From
Any C of C Member
Sponsored By
Zurich & District
Chamber of Commerce
Lic. #234376
its dining room into an office.
It was the kind of practice that
has. all but disappeared. He was
on call virtually 24 hours a day.
"They used to call at all
hours", said his wife. "They
always knew he'd go if they need-
ed him."
For a time he worked at the
Seaforth, Clinton and Exeter
hospitals simultaneously, then at
Clinton and Exeter, finally just
at Exeter.
When asked what he had
thought about the move to close
various hospitals, he said,
"When the survey was made 10 ,
years ago of the role of hospitals
in Huron County, I think it would
have been reasonable to build a
big central hospital in Clinton.
Instead, first they decided to
close it, then left it open."
There had been no hospital at
Exeter 30 years ago. "A lot of
babies were born at home or at
little nursing homes around the
country," Hensall had one;
Zurich, two.
Till about 1966 he delivered 50
babies a year; since then, only
about 30. "The birth rate
dropped in 1966 and didn't come
up again", he said. "In another
CLEARING
OUR ENTIRE STOCK OF
EVERGREEN & FLOWERING
SHRUBS AND TREES
AT ZO%O OFF
ADD COLOUR TO YOUR
GARDEN THIS FALL
HARDY MUMS $1.50
IN 6" POTS
Good Vatiety of Colours
Huron -Ridge Acres
DAVID STECKLE AND FAMILY
R.R. 2, Zurich Phone: 565-2122
11/2 mi. west then 3 % mi. north of Zurich
three or four years it will hit the
high schools, then they will,drop
away down (in enrolment)."
He sometimes went by tracor
to make rural calls in winter. He
had even gone, years ago, with
a team of horses and sled across
the fields. His car got stuck in
snowdrifts on township roads so
oftenone winter that the owner of
the village's only tow -truck gave
him the key for it and told him to
drive it when he had to go out at
night.
The night calls decreased, then
stopped. The doctor was growing
older. Times were changing, too.
"It'll soon come to the stage
where there won't be any house
calls at all", he predicted.
"There's going to be a lot less
listening to people. With health
insurance, you have to see so
many a day to make a living.
There'll be less individual care,",
That won't be his kind of prac-
tice. "I used to just work all the
time", he said. "I didn't mind
doing it."
"You'd do it again, tool" said
his wife.
If he had any regret, it was
that he had never been able to
spend much time with his
children when they were growing
up. He gave his wife all the
credit for their upbringing.
Beth, now Mrs. Douglas
Jamieson, lives in Exeter and
has two children, Scott, 12, and
Heather, 8. Peggy makes her
home in Toronto with her hus-
band, Dennis, and son, Jeff, age
14. John is completing a doc-
torate in chemistry at the
University of Toronto. Joan is at
home just now.
The leisure of retirement has
been no problem for their father
so far, He's been catching up on
some of the repair jobs around
the house and the family cottage
near St. Joseph. There's time, to
become acquainted with
grandchildren, to listen to the
classical music he loves and read
books.. He may take up
photography, the hobby he
dropped long ago. Some day,
maybe, he and his wife may
revisit England or go to Greece.
He puffed on his pipe and said,
"It's not so hard to quit either."
:::
CAKE MIXES
Lancia Medium Shells, Rigaton, Ready Cut Macaroni, Spaghetti
TOMATO JUICE
gas .6
FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Shirriff Good Morning
Marmalade 2
Salado
Tea Bugs
Rise 'N Shine
Orange Crystals
California Emperor Produce of USA
Red Grapes tt ce
Ib. 69'
Kellogg's
$5.59 Special "le 300 G.
Bee Hive
Corn Syrup 2lbs. i
oz. a Bic
Lighters 91
Ib. Aylmer 14 oz.
Green Beans
Yellow Beans, Peas 3%'s 1
Libby's
Mixed
Vegetables
FOOD MARKET
ZURICH 236-4316