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BRATTLEBORO — In the early days, doctors practiced in private offices, often in their own homes. One such doctor was Dr. Edward R.
Lynch, whose office was located on Elliot Street. In the 1899 Manning City Directory, both his home and office were listed as being at 39 Elliot Street. Imagine having a medical office in your home.
An advertisement in a 1901 local paper reads as follows: "Private Hospital for the care and treatment of Medical and Surgical cases; trained nurses & congenial home surroundings; cases of alcoholism and drug habits may commit themselves; special attention given to disease of women and children." Dr. Lynch retained his office at this address for many years.
However, the building no longer exists as it was removed to make room for the entrance to the Harmony Parking Lot. In November 1904, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital was established for the benefit of seamstresses and shop girls. The names of physicians allowed to practice at the hospital did not include all doctors who lived or practiced in Brattleboro.
A petition was in circulation almost immediately asking that the privileges of the hospital be extended to Dr. Lynch, but this was ignored by the institution. The denial for him to practice in the hospital had caused much comment.
Why was he left out? Dr. Lynch was not deterred. He and a group of other individuals created the Lynch Hospital Association.
They purchased a house in 1907 at 30 Grove Street, and set about fitting it out for a hospital, with plans to construct a 3-story building next door. For some reason, this hospital was never completed. Even with a doctor's hectic schedule, on August 18, 1908, he and a group set off on a 4-month cross-country trip.
This included Mrs. William Lyes with her two sons (one a medical student) and her daughter, who were driven by chauffeur Charles Cushman. They traveled by automobile to the West Coast, averaging 100 to 150 miles per day, ending in San Francisco with a side trip to Nome, Alaska! They returned to Brattleboro by rail, sending the car ahead by train.
The comment in the local paper upon their return said Dr. Lynch's health was much improved at the end of the journey. Was this trip taken for his health? He contracted pneumonia in 1910, or was it a recurrence? The year 1911 saw the Melrose Hospital (known as Village Green Apartments in 2024) established on Western Avenue in West Brattleboro and run by Mrs.
Joseph Lawler. Original incorporators were: Dr. Lynch, Dr.
Lachaine, Dr. Lobdell, Dr. Hamilton, Dr.
McGillicuddy, Joseph Lawler and Myron Davis. Dr. Lynch also served as a consultant and surgeon at the Farren Hospital in Montague, Mass.
Dr. Lynch's personal life was not untouched by tragedy. His first wife, Georgena (Moren) Lynch, whom he married in 1895, died suddenly of Bright's disease (kidney failure) on September 14, 1914, after 15 years of marriage, leaving him with two young sons, Edward, aged 14, and George, aged 11.
In 1915 he married Edwina Augusta Whitney but had no other children. His younger son, George, died of tuberculosis in 1925 in Brattleboro. Only his son, Edward, survived him, dying in 1969.
Dr. Lynch and his second wife were divorced in April 1926 when he claimed she was seeing a wealthy lumber mill owner in New Hampshire. The grounds were alienation of affections and he asked for $150,000 in damages.
The case was settled on July 9, 1926, but the terms of the agreement were never made public. It seems his home life was not all that happy. Over the years, Dr.
Lynch's residence moved from one part of town to another, ending up on Putney Road, where he purchased a house that he named "Riverside," the former Dorman B. Eaton residence. The house, surrounded by a stone wall, burned down in 2019, leaving only the stone wall, a chimney and the garage (since converted to a house).
It can be seen on the west side of Putney Road just south of the North Bridge. Dr. Lynch died on January 16, 1930, at the age of 59, a victim of septic pneumonia, leaving his son, Edward, and a brother, Rev.
Fr. John Lynch of Northfield. (Septic pneumonia was described as a long-lasting illness that could impact an individual for the remainder of their lives.
) Had he traveled across the country to help with his recurring pneumonia, which finally led to his death? In his will, Dr. Lynch left $1,000 to the Brattleboro Lodge of Elks, of which he was the first exalted ruler, to assist in purchasing the Elks Home on Putney Road (the former J. Harry Estey residence), and $1,000 to St.
Michael's School. Dr. Lynch is buried in St.
Michael's Cemetery. This article was written by the Secretary of the Brattleboro Historical Society Board of Trustees, Carol Farrington..
