Little Doc
Block Number: 184McDowell Quilt Trail
Ginger Todd
“LITTLE DOC” : BLOCK #184 ON MCDOWELL QUILT TRAIL
Jeff and Sarah Domingus are the latest hosts of a quilt block on their home on Monte Vista Drive, in Marion. The block is in honor of the medical field as well as in memory of Archie N. McIntosh, M.D. Jeff is a graduate of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Ohio University and also hosted quilt block #145,”Ohio Star”, on the building of Mission Family Medicine in Nebo where he practices.
In June of 2011 the Domingus family moved to McDowell County from Dayton, Ohio and purchased a home from Presbyterian Pastor Phillip and Lori Sealy and learned of its interesting history. The house was built in 1940 and in 1948 it was purchased by Archie McIntosh, M.D.
Dr. McIntosh, born into a Scottish Presbyterian family, was raised in Old Fort, N.C. and after receiving his medical degree served as a medical officer during World War II in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Both his father and brother were doctors and he began his general medicine practice with them, eventually serving more than a half-century in the Marion area.
“Dr. Archie” was well known by everyone for his devotion to his patients and his many contributions to the entire community through Civitan, Gideons, his church and for service in all major staff capacities with Marion General Hospital (later McDowell Hospital). Along with his son Donald, they provided an extensive display of their collection of rocks and minerals to the McDowell Visitors’ Center.
Dr. Archie wrote, and in 1995 published, his childhood autobiography entitled Little Doc, a nickname he was referred to as a child. It is filled with a collection of entertaining stories relating to when he was living in Old Fort during 1932-1933 when he was twelve and thirteen years old.
The experiences of him and his “Dirty Five” gang were sometimes humorous and at other times rather dangerous. They disclose informative concepts of how life was “back in the day”. The stories also reveal how even at a young age he aided his father, Dr. Donald McIntosh, in various medical procedures, thus planting the seed for his own future as a physician.
During his practice here, Dr. Domingus has enjoyed hearing the many stories of “Dr. Archie” from his patients some of whom were delivered and cared for by him. They are especially meaningful and interesting as he now resides in the McIntosh home.
Dr. Domingus says “we have also been blessed to have Tom and Shearon Cline live in the neighborhood”. Shearon is Dr. Archie’s daughter and grew up in the home and has “shared many wonderful stories about the McIntosh family.” Jeff and Sarah have three children: Naomi, 5; Asher, 3; and Jonah, 18 months. Shearon was “overjoyed” when she found out that Naomi has the same bedroom that she did as a little girl and the original basketball hoop still exists.
The Clines were present for the quilt block installation and although some changes have been made to the home she recalled many fond memories of the house and her life there, including going to a neighbor’s home to watch television as they had none at that time.
The quilt block “Little Doc” is three by three feet and was installed by volunteers Mike Lucas and Alan Scholl on September 3, 2015. Chairwoman Jill Lucas presented the Certificate of Authenticity to the Domingues family. The name comes from the title of Dr. McIntosh’s memoir and to honor the McIntosh family the background features their Scottish tartan pattern. The tartan is an important symbol of Scotland and Scottish heritage consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors. It is slung over the shoulder and identified with the traditional Scottish kilt and bagpipes.
In the center of the block a cross represents the “legacy of Christian faith that each family who has lived in the home have shared as a commonality”. It is outlined in green, the color of the medical college Dr. Domingus attended.
Superimposed on the cross is the Rod of Asclepius, the symbol used to represent the medical profession. It is incorporated in the official logo of the American Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association. It consists of a single serpent coiled around a staff and is a dominant global symbol of healing and medicine, often confused with the caduceus which has two serpents and wings.
Asclepius was the ancient renowned Greek physician, deified as the god of medicine. The myth is that he received his medical knowledge through the whispering of snakes. The staff is symbolic of authority and the snake denotes rebirth, fertility, revitalization and rejuvenation through the shedding of its skin.
For information on hosting a quilt block and joining the McDowell Quilt Trail or if you have a building that may be eligible for the Rural Heritage Trail grant process, call Mike Lucas at 828-443-6476. You can get further information at the McDowell Arts Council on Main Street in Marion or to view the blocks and stories, visit the website wwww.mcdowellquilttrail.com.
