Dr. Hutchings Office and Museum

Hutchings Office Dr. William Davies Hutchings used this 1840 building as his office and dispensary from 1882 until his death in 1903. Using family photos, Historic Madison, Inc. has restored it to its late 19th century appearance, including the Hutchings Collection of original furnishings and the doctor’s medical equipment, medicine bottles, and more. It is among the most accurate 19th century medical restorations in the US. Source: Courtesy of Historic Madison, Inc. Creator: Rhonda Deeg Date: 2017

At this rare, historic medical site, walking through the door takes you into April 1903. William Davies Hutchings, a Kentucky-born and trained doctor, moved to Madison in 1876. He practiced medicine at this location until his death in 1903. He purchased this c. 1840 modest Greek Revival building from Judge Cravens changing it “from a legal gristmill to a pharmacentical dispensary for the alleviation of bodily infirmities” as the local newspaper announced in 1882. Dr. Hutchings’ career spanned great changes in the theory and practice of medicine. At the beginning of his career, microorganisms and germs had not been identified as a cause of illness. Doctors had to create and mix their own medicines. By the end of his career, he was using a microscope to look at specimens and was referring prescriptions to the local drug store to be filled. His well-used library, instruments and records illustrate how committed he was to keeping current with the latest advancements in his field.

Matilda Koehler, the doctor’s wife, was known for her poetry which often appeared in the Madison Courier. Together they produced eleven children, three of whom died very young. They were an educated and well-traveled family, surprisingly sophisticated for a small town at the time. One of the remarkable children to emerge from the family was daughter Lida who was a skilled amateur photographer. Days after her father’s death, Lida took poignant photographs of his empty office. Those photos enabled the building to be restored as Dr. Hutching’s “Dispensary”. It is nearly identical to the day he closed the doors for the last time, thanks to Lida’s photos and the preservation of her father’s legacy.

Lida’s photography also gives us rare insight into late 19th and early 20th century life in Madison. She captured streetscapes, interiors of homes and people at play. Those photos have been a useful tool to aid in the restoration and preservation of many buildings in Madison. The only surviving grandchild, Elizabeth Keleman donated all the Doctor’s and family belongings to Historic Madison, Inc. in 1973. A video highlighting Lida’s photography plus Hutchings' family history and memorabilia are exhibited at the museum annex. The restoration was carried out by Historic Madison, Inc. which owns and operates the museum.

Images

Hutchings Office Dr. William Davies Hutchings used this 1840 building as his office and dispensary from 1882 until his death in 1903. Using family photos, Historic Madison, Inc. has restored it to its late 19th century appearance, including the Hutchings Collection of original furnishings and the doctor’s medical equipment, medicine bottles, and more. It is among the most accurate 19th century medical restorations in the US. Source: Courtesy of Historic Madison, Inc. Creator: Rhonda Deeg Date: 2017

Dr. Hutchings William Davies Hutchings, a Kentucky-born and trained doctor, moved to Madison in 1876. Dr. Hutchings’ career spanned a period of great change in the theory and practice of medicine. It is clear from his well-used library, instruments and records, that he was committed to keeping current with the latest advancements in his field. Source: Courtesy of Historic Madison, Inc. Date: c. 1890

Matilda Koehler Matilda Koehler, the doctor’s wife, was known for her poetry which often appeared in the Madison *Courier*. She had eleven children, three of whom died very young. They were an educated and well-traveled family, surprisingly sophisticated for a small town at the time. Source: Courtesy of Historic Madison, Inc. Date: c. 1890

Lida Hutchings Lida Hutchings, one of the couple’s children, was a skilled amateur photographer. It was her photos which permitted such an accurate restoration of her father’s office. She also tagged, stored and saved Dr. Hutchings’s medical equipment and many of the family’s belongings. Only a portion of this large collection is available on exhibit in the doctor’s office and the adjacent Hutchings Museum. Source: Courtesy of Historic Madison, Inc. Creator: Lida Hutchings Date: c. 1890

Dispensary Dr. Hutchings' dispensary in 1903. This image was recently uncovered. Combined with physical evidence in the room, Historic Madison staff were able to reconstruct the wall and shelf and then return many of the medicine bottles in storage to their 1903 locations. Source: Courtesy of Historic Madison, Inc. Creator: Lida Hutchings Date: 1903

Office Desk View of Dr. Hutchings office as it looked shortly after his death in 1903. The incredible details captured in the 5x7 glass plate negative permitted Historic Madison, Inc. to accurately recreate the feel of this space. Source: Courtesy of Historic Madison, Inc. Creator: Lida Hutchings Date: 1903

Street Musicians Lida Hutchings took hundreds, perhaps even thousands of photos during her life. Many were home and doctor’s office images, but quite a few were taken around the Madison area and others of their home in North Carolina. This is a rare view of street musicians, presumably in Madison. Source: Courtesy of Historic Madison, Inc. Creator: Lida Hutchings Date: c. 1890

Home interior A view of the Hutchings family home showing furnishings, carpets and other domestic details. Much of the furniture was used in the Hutchings Office restoration. Source: Courtesy of Historic Madison, Inc. Creator: Lida Hutchings Date: c. 1900

Lula Winn In the 1890s, Lida travelled to the Lakota Indian territory in South Dakota with other Episcopal Church missionaries. She captured rare images of Native American life. Pictured here is Lula Winn, who survived the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre as an infant, according to Lida’s notes. Source: Courtesy of Historic Madison, Inc. Creator: Lida Hutchings Date: c. 1900

Main Street Madison at Main Street and West Street circa 1900. This is another photo taken by Lida Hutchings. Source: Courtesy of Historic Madison, Inc. Creator: Lida Hutchings Date: 1900

Metadata

Citation Info

Historic Madison, Inc., “Dr. Hutchings Office and Museum,” Discover Indiana, accessed October 22, 2026, https://discoverindianahistory.org.curatescape7.reclaim.hosting/items/show/504.

Images

Metadata

Citation Info

Related Tours