This week’s “Museum Feature of the Week”, is the Dental Chair and Wagon! Dr. Henry Mansfield was a lifelong resident and dentist of Jonesport, Maine. Several times a year he transported this chair and equipment, including a pedal powered drill, to the towns of Columbia Falls, Addison, Machiasport and Harrington in Washington County in order to serve his dental and optometry patients who would have found it difficult to journey to his office.
His practice was to pass out handbills indicating in which home he would set up his chair and announce the days and hours. A 20-mile trip in those days involved three days: one to the destination, one to tend to the business of the trip, and one to return home. If travelers were farmers with animals to tend, extra problems would be presented. Dr. Mansfield performed a valuable service in the late 1800s.
