A Peek into Summers County’s Past: Hinton Hospital and Doctor Stokes

HINTON W.Va. (Hinton News) - My family has made several interesting connections to the old Hinton Hospital over the years. One of which is where my Mother's parents first met. My Grandfather, Bearnard Thompson’s, Aunt, Nora Wallace, of Talcott, was a patient sometime towards the end of 1953.

He would go to Hinton to visit his aunt, and while he was visiting her, he got to talking to this young lady who was her roommate named Beatrice “Bea” Thomas. Bernard and Bea became quite smitten with each other. Granddad would “forget” his aunt had been released and would go back to see her. Once Bea reminded him Nora had been discharged , he would sit down and visit with her, you know, since he was already there, “cough cough.” Grandma was engaged to another gentleman at that time , but that didn't stop Granddad from pursuing Bea.

Once Bea was released, the two started dating and eventually married in 1954. Then along came my Uncle Bob in 1956, who was born in the Hinton Hospital. The same goes for my Mother in 1958. The Old Hinton Hospital had a reputation for being one of the best hospitals in the surrounding counties. For instance, my mother was rushed to the hospital in 1962 when a steel swing set fell on her, striking her on the temple.

On the way to the hospital, she was pronounced dead. After arriving there and having quite a long stay, she made a miraculous recovery . Some of the names you hear most about the doctors of this hospital are Doctor Stokes, Doctor Ritter, Doctor Mcneer, and Doctor Camara.

I will focus on Dr Stokes, as my family has a long history of being some of his patients over decades. My grandparents had moved to Charleston from Talcott for grandad's job with Chemical Leaman Tank Lines.  They kept their house in Talcott and used it for a camp to come “home” and visit on weekends and holidays. While here , if they needed medical attention , Grandma would take the children to Doctor Stokes.

You see, the odd and funny part of this story is that my grandmother had dated Doctor Stokes' son years before. My Mother can vividly remember going to him when they would be up here from Charleston, and she would get sick. Doctor Stokes would tell her, “Cheryl come over here and sit on my knee.” She would, and then he would say, “You do know you could have easily been my granddaughter, don't you Cheryl?” And then just die laughing.

Another Doctor Stokes story about him and my mother involved mom wanting her ears pierced. Mom was about eight years old and wanted to get hers pierced because all her friends in the “city” were getting theirs pierced. Grandma didn't want her to and hadn't let her.

Mom had gotten strep throat or something and was taken to Doctor Stokes about it. Grandma either told him or his nurse before getting there about Mom wanting to get her ears pierced. After examining her for the reason she had gone to see him, he said to her , “Come sit by me Cheryl, what is this I hear about you wanting to get your ears pierced?” Mom said, “All of my friends are getting theirs done.”

Doctor Stokes told her that girls shouldn't get their ears pierced at such a young age. Mom asked why not. He told her an off-color story about what could happen if she did. And finished it off by telling her if she got her ears pierced now she wouldn’t be able to have children when she gets older. He had mom so terrified that the subject never came up with grandma again for years. She didn't get her ears pierced until she was 15. HaHa

I met Doctor Stokes' grandson at the airport in Pence Springs in 2019. He said that Doctor Stokes was called to the home of a couple on the mountain above Hinton to deliver their baby. When he got there, the midwife was already with the mother-to-be. So the doctor and the midwife went into the bedroom with the lady, and the husband stayed out in the dining room sitting at the table.

After an extended time, there was a “smack,” and a baby started crying. Doctor Stokes came out and congratulated the dad on his new baby. A few seconds later, the midwife stuck her head out around the closed door and said, “Quick Doctor, get back in here!”

The father stood up, thinking something was wrong. Doctor Stokes told him to sit back down, and he would go find out what is the matter . The door shut. A few minutes passed, and suddenly, you heard another “smack” and a second baby crying.

Doctor Stokes came out with a towel, drying his hands, and said, “Congratulations, it was twins!” The dad sat back in his chair, started wringing his hands, and rubbed his head. He was saying things like, “Ohhh ohhh what am I going to do now? I can’t do this, I don’t have it.” Dr Stokes asked him what was worrying him, and the guy said, “Doc I only saved enough money for the one!” Haha

Doctor Stokes laughed and said, “Do not worry about that, we will figure something out. Now go meet your babies.” See, in those days when the wife was expecting, the family would start putting a little money to aside to pay the doctor when he delivered the baby. This dad expected Doctor Stokes would double charge him since it turned out to be twins and not just the one baby like they had all been expecting.

This is only a small sample of the great and hilarious stories of the doctors of Summers County. I have said for years that someone should write a book with a collection of stories about these great doctors. The book would write itself in essence. Hopefully, someone will record these memories before they are lost with time.

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