Dr. CT and Dr. GT Waggoner

Charles Thatcher Waggoner (CT Waggoner)

The first mention of Dr. Charles T Waggoner in Spartansburg was in 1897. He and his wife, Rose, had a son, George, who was born in Spartansburg in 1898. Rose passed away in 1902.

Dr. Waggoner was here in 1898 when fire attacked the Northeast side of Main Street. He and his colleague, Dr. HK Green, had been members of fire departments in other cities. They were reported to have helped to direct the firefighting effort and were credited with preventing the fire from crossing Main Street while the citizens kept the bucket brigade going.

Dr. CT Waggoner saw patients in his office and went to his patients where they needed him. He had received education in the treatment of eye diseases and held office hours in Titusville 2 days each week starting in 1900. Besides helping with births, general illness and easing the process of death, Waggoner handled injuries of many types. He treated an oil worker who had a thumb torn off in a gas engine, a young boy who severed his instep with an ax, a woman who fell and had “congestion of the brain”, and a worker who fell 12 feet while working on the construction of the Spartansburg Vocational School in 1922.

Waggoner became a physician following a previous profession in newspapers. He held several positions in journalism while in Chicago. An article in the Titusville Herald indicates that his term with news lasted 17 years.

In 1904, he moved his offices into his residence on Main Street (house originally built by William Major). Waggoner frequently spent time in Titusville and stayed in the “Mansion House” which later became the Colonel Drake Hotel.

Dr. Waggoner married again, but the marriage was brief and ended in divorce. His son, George, remained with him until he attended college at Edinboro in 1914. After college, he returned until he entered medical school in Ann Arbor MI in 1918.

Several members of Waggoner’s family were doctors. An uncle and a nephew practiced in Corry, Another ran a clinic in Ohio. Two more had practices in Los Angeles. In 1928, Dr. Waggoner retired from active practice and spent several winter months with his family in Los Angeles.

Card playing was a popular activity in Spartansburg at this time. Several card clubs had regular meetings and Dr. Waggoner was a frequent attendee. To help his friends remember him while he was in California, he sent oranges back for his card club to enjoy.

Waggoner was among the first in Spartansburg to own a car. In 1925 he purchased an Oakland car. I am sure that the car made his many visits to family and friends, and trips to other cities much easier.

After returning from California, he purchased the small brick building on the south side of Main Street next to what had been the shoe shop belonging to Gus Schmelzer. He remodeled the building to serve as offices for himself and George. Less than a year later, CT Waggoner suffered a stroke. He recovered, but passed away in June, 1928. He had served Spartansburg’s medical needs for over 30 years.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/109668005/charles-thatcher-waggoner

George Thatcher Waggoner (GT Waggoner)

George grew up knowing what the life of a rural doctor was like. He followed in the footsteps of many family members and became a doctor. He often covered his father’s practice in Spartansburg, but established his own office in Conneaut Lake for most of his professional life. He graduated from Ann Arbor School of Medicine in 1923, then interned in Detroit in 1924. He married a woman from Williamsport, PA in 1929 and lived and practiced there for a short time. His marriage ended in divorce.

In 1946, GT sold the building that housed the Spartansburg practice to the Christian and Missionary Alliance. The building was connected to the Gospel Tabernacle that the CMA used for services.

George took advantage of access to good fishing in Spartansburg and Conneaut Lake and reported landing several large fish at both places.

George took advantage of access to good fishing in Spartansburg and Conneaut Lake and reported landing several large fish at both.