History

Dr. Thomas McSwain & the Family Mansion

Story & Photos by Terry Ommen

As towns grow and develop, it’s important that they have a good blend of professions and occupations in the population. Laborers, merchants, builders and peace officers, for example, are needed, but probably none are more necessary than doctors. Without medical men and women providing care, life can be a challenge.

Over its long history, Visalia has had a good supply of medical providers. In 1852, when the town began, Dr. Reuben Mathews treated the handful of people living here, and as the town grew, so did the number of physicians. Most served with distinction, providing necessary care to a grateful population. One such notable physician was Dr. Thomas Omar McSwain.

The 35-year-old Iowa native came to Visalia in 1897 with his friend and fellow doctor, Robert C. Cranston. Both were graduates of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in San Francisco. It’s unclear why the two chose Visalia, but on July 9, the Daily Visalia Delta acknowledged their arrival, reporting that “they have cast their lot with our people and have already gained many friends.”

By the end of the year, Cranston was back in San Francisco working at the California Medical College. But McSwain had immersed himself in the community, putting his medical knowledge to work. He arrived just in time to help with the physical exams of nearly 100 local boys in Visalia’s Company E, National Guard of California, who were preparing to go off to war with Spain in 1898.

McSwain’s medical work steadily increased in the town of about 3,000 people. He set Joseph Lawrence’s broken leg after a heavy pipe fell on it. He carefully removed glass from the body of E.S. Phillips after the man’s Fourth of July firework concoction exploded prematurely. He even patched up 6-year-old Morse Gribble, whose horse had kicked him in the face.

Although his practice was successful, his treatment outcomes were sometimes not. When Henry Reams fell under the wheels of his heavily-loaded fruit wagon, McSwain could not stop the internal bleeding in time to save him. He also failed to remove the malignant tumor that had spread throughout the body of J.T. Rogers.

Despite these unsuccessful treatments, the doctor’s good reputation spread quickly. In 1901, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors named him the county physician. The same year, he was named medical attendant for the Visalia Fire Department. Later, he would be hired by the Santa Fe Railroad as its Visalia area company physician.

In addition to his busy medical practice, he had an active social and business life. Fraternally, he was a member of the local camp of Woodmen of the World, and held memberships in the Elks, Masonic Lodge and Knights Templar. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, belonging to the International Golden Trout Fishing Club. He also dabbled with Kern County oil investments. He partnered with Dr. Walter Cross to build the St. Helen Sanitarium, a Visalia hospital which unfortunately burned to the ground before it received a single patient. He even found time for frequent trips to San Francisco to visit friends.

By 1903, McSwain had marriage on his mind. The object of his affection was Mabel Kathryn Wasson, a trained San Francisco nurse 15 years his junior. On January 27, the two were married in a small ceremony at the doctor’s Visalia home on South Court Street.

It doesn’t appear that Mabel worked outside of the home, but she was very active socially. The California native was charming, cultured and recognized as a skillful party organizer. Mabel, or Katie Mae as she was known, became a prominent figure in social circles.

But life didn’t always go smoothly for the doctor. On at least one occasion, he was the victim of forgery when an employee stole his checks, forged his name and cashed them. Another time, his “grip,” (bag) containing “several bottles of cocaine, morphine, codeine and other opiates,” was stolen from his automobile and never recovered.

Though the McSwains were extremely busy, they found time to invest in local real estate, purchasing one parcel on the southern edge of town, where the couple made plans to build an elaborate new home.

In 1916, they put their home ideas on paper, using the services of Bay Area architect Joseph J. Rankin. Rankin had impressive credentials. According to the Daily Visalia Delta, he had been the chief of the Architectural Department for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.

The McSwain mansion as it appeared in about 1925. Dr. McSwain can be seen standing on the porch.

In early 1917, ground was broken on the southwest corner of Tulare Avenue and Court Street for their two-story, colonial-style dream home. It would have hardwood and elaborate built-in features throughout, a study, and a 25’ x 40’ living room, perfect for entertaining. When it was finished, it was a showcase built for an estimated $25,000.

On the evening of November 11, 1917, the McSwains hosted their first big party in their new home. It was given in honor of soon-to-be married Christina Bradley. It was a grand affair with dancing, food and singing by Harvey Gilmer. The guest list was a who’s who of Visalia’s social scene, and the event effectively introduced the palatial property to the community. For years, the landmark mansion was a popular venue.

McSwain’s medical practice continued into the 1920s, and he became one of the founding doctors of Kaweah Hospital Inc. in 1921. By 1928, his failing health forced him to retire from active practice. For the next few years, he languished in poor health, and on August 10, 1933, he passed away at his stately home at the age of 71.

Katie continued to stay active, especially on the golf course at the Visalia Country Club. Her last days were spent at the Visalia Convalescent Hospital on Houston Avenue, where she died on April 16, 1976, at the age of 99.

The McSwain home as it appears today at Tulare Avenue and Court St.

Special thanks to Claudia Allred Ward, granddaughter of Dr. and Mrs. T.O. McSwain, for her help in telling this story.