A photograph of the medical office entrance of Dr. Arthur A. Horn, of Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
The following biographical sketch is presented here, with some editing from the version that appeared in A Comprehensive History of the Town of Gratz Pennsylvania, 1997:
ARTHUR A. HORN, 1930-1965
Arthur A. Horn was born in 1906 in Hegins, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, a son of Brook E. Horn and Margaret [Kroh] Horn. When he was young the family moved to Heckschersville, Schuylkill County. He graduated from Cass Township High School in June 1923 and began his pre-medical studies in Philadelphia in September 1923 at Hahnemann Pre-Medical College. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he entered Hahnemann College and there completed his Doctor of Medicine degree in June 1929, as the second youngest in a class of seventy-two students. Following an internship at the Womens’ Homeopathic Hospital in Philadelphia, he qualified for the State Medical Board Examination and in September 1930 was licensed to practice medicine and surgery in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Horn came to Gratz and opened his office there on 10 October 1930. His first office was in the home of Louis Hepler, where he boarded, and he used their living room as a waiting room. For a time, he also lived with the Joseph A. Umholtz family. In 1939, he purchased what became the permanent family residence on East Market Street, Gratz, a section of which (with separate entrance), was his office.
Over the years, the registered nurses who assisted him were: Mary Girard; Beulah Anspach; Jane Chester; and Ellen Scheib. He also conducted the Well Baby Clinic out of the I.O.O.F. building on West Market Street, Gratz.
Sometimes during the 1940s, the “Tuberculosis Truck” came to Gratz and parked in front of the Community Center. These x-ray units were driven routinely to various communities, as a service to the residents. Many people responded to have the x-ray screening taken. Several weeks later, most people received a card in the mail, noting that the test was negative. For Dr. Horn, it was a different case. He received a letter telling him that a spot had been noticed on his lung. He went to Devitts Tuberculosis camp to be treated with bed rest for eleven months. While he was gone, his registered nurse, Ellen Scheib [Mrs. Carlos Scheib], took care of the routine problems of the doctor’s patients.
Ellen Scheib worked with Dr. Horn about five years starting in 1947. Her specialty was taking care of area women during their pregnancies. When the doctor was notified that a patient was having labor pains, Ellen went to the home to be with her during the early stages. When delivery was near, Ellen notified the doctor. In some cases, Ellen was the sole person to assist at the birth.
While Dr. Horn was hospitalized at Devitts Camp, Ellen Scheib took over the doctor’s office responsibilities. She took calls from patients and if needed, she received help from Dr. Robert Barto Sr., or Dr. Esther Hottenstein, who were the back-up doctors for more serious problems. Ellen also went on call throughout the countryside. Each evening she called Dr. Horn to discuss the day’s happenings or to get specialized information. After Dr. Horn returned to Gratz to resume his practice, Ellen Scheib continued to do home visits. On Tuesday, which was Dr. Horn’s day off, Ellen operated the office practice.
In 1952, Ellen Scheib resigned in Gratz and took a position in the Obstetrics Gynecology Department at the Sunbury Community Hospital and worked there for over twenty years until her retirement.
Besides the busy schedule related to his medical practice, Dr. Horn was active in many projects within the community. He was a member of the Gratz School Board while the new school was built in 1954. One of the things many local people remember is the many home movies he took. No matter what the occasion – parades, Halloween, or neighborhood gatherings – he had his camera ready. Periodically, Dr. Horn showed these movies at the fire house.
Also his music talents were a personal enjoyment. He was an accomplished violinist. One friend who was a good pianist was Clair Altland who was a teacher in the Gratz School. Dr. Horn’s wife Helen was an excellent pianist and frequently, after a stressful day in the office, the Horn’s relaxed playing their music. Also, they enjoyed going to concerts at the Forum in Harrisburg.
In 1931, Dr. Horn married Helen E. Felsburg, a daughter of George Godfrey Felsburg and Adalaide [Zimmerman] Felsburg of Minersville, Schuylkill County. Dr. and Mrs. Horn had one child, Cynthia Horn. She married Joseph Jablonski and lives in Harrisburg with their one daughter Corinna Jablonski.
Dr. Horn died on 25 August 1965 at the Polyclinic Hospital in Harrisburg.
Helen E. [Felsburg] Horn died in March 1979, the result of an assault from an unknown person after she returned home from a meeting of the Gratz Historical Society.
See:
The Murder of Helen Horn in Gratz – An Unsolved Crime from 1979
Dr. and Mrs. Horn are buried at the Gratz Union Cemetery, Gratz.
_________________________________
The picture of Dr. Horn’s office entrance is from the Gratz Sesquicentennial Book, 1957. Dr. Horn’s biographical sketch is modified/edited from A Comprehensive History of the Town of Gratz Pennsylvania, 1997.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.