THE MULLEN CLINIC

by Mildred Szwanek

Entry T60 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

The Sandhill Clinic 1988

The first Mullen Clinic was located in the
downstairs basement of the Pioneer Memo-
rial Hospital with its own outside entrance.

In September of 1958, Dr. Sam Blattspieler
came from Southerland, Nebraska and open-
ed the Mullen Clinic. He continued to run the
Clinic by himself until February of 1959 when
Dr. Joe Saults was discharged from the Army
and came to join him. Soon Dr. Sam and Dr.
Joe were settled in and became a very
important part of the community.

Some of the Hospital Board members
during this period of time were: Paul Ma-
thews, Maude Nelson. John Motl, Lucy Isom,
Elmer Little, Chester Johnson, Ross Hager
and their were others through the years.

The Mullen Clinic continued to be a busy
place but as often happens, Dr. Sam felt he
should move on, so in May of 1965, he, his
wife Beverly and their two children moved to
Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In July of 1974, Dr. Joe and his wife, Joan
moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Since then we
have had many different Doctors - none of
them staying very long. Dr. Mercado and Dr.
Tom Wilson, each stayed several years.

A Government Grant was received in 1976
and continued until July of 1985.

A new Clinic was built in 1982- 1983 across
the Street from the Hospital. It was opened
in March of 1983 and named The Sandhills
Clinic and for awhile maintained branch
offices in Thedford, Nebraska and Hyannis,
Nebraska. These two branch offices were
open one day a week to serve the public.

Some of the women that have worked at the
Clinic in the earlier years as receptionists in
the office, other various capacities are: Lucy
Isom, Esther Holtmeier, Vera Arends, Joan
Saults, Mildred Szwanek, Marge Pearson,
Helen Kraye, Kathy Morris, RoseMary
Thorpe, and many others.

The Clinic, doctors and nurses, both in the
old and new, have handled many emergency
cases and given professional and friendly
help to the community and surrounding area,
for which Mullen is thankful.