The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/61487
E-8 Stellar Community Finalist H Wednesday, April 11, 2012 The Press-Dispatch Stellar Focus Vision Driven Petersburg, Indiana A drawing of the proposed new fire station to be located on Sixth St. near Illinois St. © Architectural Design Concepts, LLC and Midwestern Engineers. 4Fire Station Relocation structing a new fire station on Illinois St. near Sixth St. ■ Equipment bay measuring 5,571 square feet, THE NEW STATION WILL FEATURE: ■ Training room 875 sq. ft. ■ Office 378 sq. ft. ■ Day room 966 sq. ft. The project will consist of con- VISION: tion the old station will be razed and developed into additional parking for courthouse employees and for those attending events at the Old Peters- burg Gym. was originally built in 1963 as a home for not only the Fire Department but also the Street Department. Mayor Craig said in the building's Petersburg's current fire station OVERVIEW: undersized station will greatly aid the fire department in its critical life safety function. Upon completion of the new sta- Replacing the old landlocked and 48 years it has become woefully out- grown. As an example, he said the new fire truck "has to be parked per- fectly, station to be able to close. He said they also have to make sure there is no snow build-up on the drive or it " for the bathroom door in the will cause the truck to drag on the overhead door of its bay. He said other problems include no adequate space for training, and no office space ,as well as no women's bathroom. Craig said it also makes more sense for the department, which makes more than 400 fire and medi- cal runs a year, to be on Illinois St. instead of at the edge of downtown and in a residential area. for the relocation of the fire station and after evaluating numerous loca- tions, the site on Illinois St. was cho- sen. A planning study was completed READINESS: AFamily ofMedicine Since the 1940s thousands upon thousands of people in the Vincennes and surrounding communities have sought the medical expertise of a Hendrix, whether it's for their eye or physical health. Brothers, Charles and Eli B. Hendrix, Jr., began what would be just the first generation of medical care by the Hendrix family. The brothers, along with their three sisters, Virginia, Lucille and Gertrude, grew up in Petersburg on Main Street with their parents Eli, Sr. and Hazel. Charles and Eli had looked up to their father who worked hard as a coal miner and then a banker. Their father provided them with a good way of life, and they took his example of working hard to establish such a life for themselves as adults. Eli was the first who decided to enter the medical field. After earning his doctor of optometry, Eli began his own practice in 1945 at 207 Main Street in Vincennes. Eli had accomplished much success during his life and set a mighty fine example for his and wife Velma's four children, E.B., Mark, Scott, and Jan. Though none of them originally planned to follow in their father's footsteps, eventually the sons came to decide optometry was the right choice for them as well. Jan also went into the medical field with a career in occupational therapy. "I spent time in dad's office learning what he did and I discovered it was what I wanted to do," E.B. explained. "I liked the idea of providing health care to my community." After earning his doctor of optometry in 1975 E.B. immediately began practicing with his father. Meanwhile, Mark was studying optometry as well. When he graduated in 1978, Mark came home and began his own practice. The youngest brother Scott was also on the verge of becoming an optometrist and after he finished school in 1980, he joined his brother Mark's practice. In 1986 they bought the present Eyeworks building and in 1987, the father and three sons all incorporated together at Eyeworks. "Our practice was extremely unique," Scott stated matter-of-factly. "We don't know of any other optometry practice in the United States with a father and three sons." The father and three-son practice lasted until 1995 when Eli retired, he passed away 11 years later. At present day, the Hendrix brothers are happy to have E.B.'s son Eli B. join them at Eyeworks. "To be able to come back here and work with my dad has been a big deal for us both," Eli B. stated. "Working with family is great." The medical talents of the Hendrix family don't only lie in the optometry field, there are also many in the family who specialize as doctors of medicine. That side started with Charles, Sr. After earning his medical degree in 1955, Charles followed his brother to Vincennes and started an internal medicine practice. Charles was the first board-certified internal medicine physician in Vincennes. Charles, Sr. and his wife Helen had three children, Charles Jr., Alan and Ann. Charles, Jr. knew early on in his life that he wanted to be just like his father. "My father was who I emulated and admired so much," Charles, Jr. said with pride. "As far back as I can remember I wanted to be a physician." After he completed medical school, Charles, Jr. joined his father's practice in 1983. The father and son worked together until Charles, Sr.'s retirement in 1997, he passed away in 2002. Charles Jr., now practices at Good Samaritan Hospital's Medical Center of Vincennes. Alan said he was inspired to become a physician after seeing how compassionate his dad was and how devoted he was to work and his patients. Initially, he had envisioned practicing with his dad and brother, but during rotations in medical school he fell in love with anesthesiology. "Anesthesiology just struck a nerve," he said. "I always knew that I wanted to come back home and in 1990 I started at Good Samaritan Hospital, where I knew I would be able to work with my dad and brother." Charles, Sr.'s family of medicine didn't end with his sons. Now, a grandson is taking on the same profession - Charles, Jr.'s son Thomas. For nearly a year, Thomas has been practicing at Good Samaritan Hospital as a hospitalist. "I knew since I was in the fourth grade that I wanted to be a physician," Thomas recalled. Some may think the Hendrix family of medicine story ends here, but what most may not realize is that there are two other prominent physicians in the Vincennes community with Hendrix ties - doctors Phillip Kinman and Charles Hedde. Phillip is the son of Virginia Hendrix, Eli and Charles Sr.'s sister. Growing up in Petersburg, around uncles in the medical field, Phillip planned to become a physician as well. "I always knew it was what I wanted to do," Phillip stated. After working for seven years as an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and head of the trauma unit at the University of Miami, Phillip had the opportunity to come back home in 1976 to join the practice of Daniel Herman, Sr. and Virgil McMahan - now Vincennes Orthopedics. He has been there ever since. Phillip says he feels privileged to be a part of the Hendrix family. "All of these guys could've gone to a lot of different places, but they came back home," he stated. "I think it was important to come back and serve this community, and it's extremely important for the future." Dr. Hedde became connected to the Hendrix family after he married Charles' daughter Ann. The couple married in 1976, and Dr. Hedde finished his medical training in 1981 and immediately began practicing with Ann's father and Dr. Ralph Smith. After three generations of medicine, members of the Hendrix family hope that their family has been able to touch the lives of many in the Knox and surrounding communities. "I hope we have made this a better place to live," Charles Jr. said. "It's an honor and privilege to better the health and welfare of our community. It makes me proud to be a member of such a family." SCHEDULE: First year environmental and design Second year Acquire property, permits and start construction Third year Finalize design, apply for $1.6 million Complete construction PROJECT BUDGET: Front row: E.B. and Mark Hendrix, Phillip Kinman, and Charles Hedde Back row: Scott, Eli, Thomas, Charles, Jr. and Alan Hendrix www.gshvin.org