Abbott "Pete" Smith, D.V.M.
June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Above, Dr. Smith's Milliron Clinic, Athens, Ohio.
June 16, 2017 Photo courtesy Joy Miller-Upton
The nicest thing about the rain is that it always stops. Eventually.
Eeyore
Eeyore
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Pete Smith, D.V.M., and Milliron: Abbott “Pete” Smith, D.V.M. The Biography (Monday Creek Publishing 2017). A graduate of Colorado State University and a well-known veterinarian in southeast Ohio, Dr. Smith continues to motivate and inspire.
Dr. Smith relocated from drought-ridden Colorado to the lush hills of SE Ohio – he liked the changing of the seasons and rain in the forecast. SE Ohio has changeable weather, from the extreme cold of winter, to the sweltering days of summer, with plenty of rain and flooding in-between. Dr. Smith hit the jackpot weather-wise!
Built close to the McDougal Branch of Federal Creek, Milliron Clinic is two feet out of the floodplain. On several occasions, this has caused extra work for Dr. Smith, mostly installing extensive drains throughout the parking lot.
The creek has swollen out of banks several
times, washing over the bridge. The bridge is the gateway to Milliron Clinic
and Farm. It is the lifeline to the farmhouse that sits on the hill looking
down on Milliron Clinic. One time the bridge was severely damaged, and Dr. Smith
contacted government agencies to help rebuild the water-wrecked structure.
Since the bridge is the Smith’s entryway to the farmhouse, the government
provided the needed funds to make the repairs.
Water has been known to rush down the hill from the farmhouse into the clinic parking lot. Before the drains, Dr. Smith placed flood barriers at the bottom of the farmhouse hill so that the heavy flow would not enter the clinic. In time, the barrier could not handle the flow and torrential rain broke the barrier, covering the clinic floor. Shortly after, Dr. Smith installed large drains in the parking lot (see photos). The drains lead directly to the creek, just below the clinic.
The creek still swells. The clinic still stands. And the parking lot never floods.
Dr. Smith relocated from drought-ridden Colorado to the lush hills of SE Ohio – he liked the changing of the seasons and rain in the forecast. SE Ohio has changeable weather, from the extreme cold of winter, to the sweltering days of summer, with plenty of rain and flooding in-between. Dr. Smith hit the jackpot weather-wise!
Built close to the McDougal Branch of Federal Creek, Milliron Clinic is two feet out of the floodplain. On several occasions, this has caused extra work for Dr. Smith, mostly installing extensive drains throughout the parking lot.
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| Dr. Smith at work, over the parking lot drain. |
Water has been known to rush down the hill from the farmhouse into the clinic parking lot. Before the drains, Dr. Smith placed flood barriers at the bottom of the farmhouse hill so that the heavy flow would not enter the clinic. In time, the barrier could not handle the flow and torrential rain broke the barrier, covering the clinic floor. Shortly after, Dr. Smith installed large drains in the parking lot (see photos). The drains lead directly to the creek, just below the clinic.
The creek still swells. The clinic still stands. And the parking lot never floods.
Connect with Gina
Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.
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