Doc Pick - The Practice
(1946 - 1960)
Remsen Veterinary Clinic (Founded 1957)
323 Hawkeye Ave (State Hwy 3) - Remsen, IA
(photo taken 2009)
The Story of Dad’s Practice
“We learned a lot from Dad. He let us watch when he operated on animals or performed post-mortems. The portable operating table, folded and stored along the wall in the garage, was brought out and put into service for spaying a dog or setting a puppy’s broken leg.”
~ David Pick
Dr. E.H. Pick
“Dad came to Remsen hungry and ready to work. We lived in the basement while our house was being remodeled, and Dad rented a small office in Vern Kellen’s feed store.
We came to Remsen on the advice of Dad’s brother Andrew who farmed east of town.”
This is the only known photo of Doc Pick from his veterinary practice days. It was captured in the mid-1950s before building his new veterinary clinic. Doc was sitting in his garage/office.
Behind him is the family car, a blue 2-door ’51 Plymouth Suburban station wagon. He is sitting on bags of Vis-Vita livestock feed supplement (made in Sioux City IA and still in operation today).
Oct 31, 1946/Le Mars Globe-Post: Two veterinarians coming to town!
Oct 31, 1946/Remsen Bell/pg 8/Practice announcement. Office was in Kellen Produce building and calls answered day and night. Mom & Dad were tethered to the phone 24/7 for many years.
Dec 16, 1948: Two years later, this was the last “Kellen Produce” ad in the Remsen Bell. It is assumed the new garage, soon to double as an office, was finished and ready for business. The garage was attached to the northeast corner of Doc's recently remodeled house at 407 E 5th St.
1955/Le Mars Globe-Post/ Elmer H Pick bought a 1955 Plymouth (for his practice).
Feb 1959/LeMars Globe-Post/Dad bought his last practice car, 1959 Plymouth Savoy/4-door sedan/green.
Mar 1961/Remsen Bell/Dr. E H Pick and Associates open SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) Pigs Laboratory/406 E Nothem Av (building currently owned by Russell’s Ready Mix).
Mar 2, 1961: Laboratory Open House.
June 8, 1961/1st of weekly ads in Remsen Bell.
July 26, 1962/the last of weekly ads. Due to unfortunate circumstances, the lab closed.
“Dad retired and sold his practice to Ed, Virgil and Dale that same year. We moved to the farm in April 1960 and Ralph left the clinic soon after Dad left the practice. Donnell Engelbrecht was hired to take his place. Ralph said Dad was the finest person he ever worked for.”
— From “Dad’s Practice” story by David Pick and Mary (Pick) Wagner
