Chinook Dental Clinic moving to former Wells Fargo building

 

May 6, 2020

This bank building at Indiana and Fourth Streets in downtown Chinook was built in 1973. Wells Fargo acquired the bank in 1998 and closed the branch in mid-May of 2017. Chinook dentist Dr. Robert Chaffin purchased the building and plans to move the Chinook Dental Clinic to the new site "within the year."

On a visit to Chinook a few weeks ago I ran in to Dr. Robert Chaffin who owns and operates the Chinook Dental Clinic. I'd heard Dr. Chaffin had bought the former Wells Fargo building and there were several unofficial versions floating around about his plans for the building. He shared his plans to move his dental practice to the corner of Indiana and Fourth Streets in downtown Chinook. Interestingly a dental clinic first occupied the same corner nearly a century ago. Here's some details of the history and move.

The 'Dickson Block' eventually became the site of a bank

In the early 1920's Dr. J.L. Dickson, a dentist, built a one story building on the corner now occupied by the former Wells Fargo building. He had a dental practice in the front portion of the building and lived in the rear. Later he built a second story to the building. Readers of a certain age will recall the Cozy Corner Café was housed in part of the building at one time.

Dr. Joseph R. (Joe) Dickson, J.L. Dickson's son, graduated from Chinook High in 1921 and entered Harvard University at the age of 16. He graduated Harvard and completed dental school at the University of Illinois in 1932. He practiced dentistry in the Chicago area for about a year, then joined his father's practice in Chinook in the mid-1930's.

Dr. Joe Dickson met a tragic death in December, 1964. He was killed in a freak accident when a recently constructed interstate bridge(I-80 at that time) over the John Day River collapsed. Dr. Dickson, his wife and a son were driving to California to visit another son for the holidays. The accident happened about 120 miles east of Portland on the Columbia Gorge.

Relatives later reported in the December 31, 1964 issue of the "Chinook Opinion" that when the bridge span failed it seemed to 'explode' and blew two front tires and stalled the Dickson's vehicle. Norma, Dr. Dickson's wife and, Bill, the couple's younger son, were able make their way to safety. Dr. Dickson was believed to have fallen in to the chasm created by the collapse of the span. Dr. Joe Dickson had celebrated his 60th birthday a few days before the accident.

In 1973 a local bank, chartered in 1916, built and occupied the current building on the corner. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions the bank became a part of the Wells Fargo system in 1998. The branch closed in mid-May of 2017, part of a nationwide downsizing of Wells Fargo. The building was put up for sale shortly after the branch closed.

Dr. Robert Chaffin began practicing in Chinook in January, 2015

Dr. Chaffin came from a dental practice in Hamilton that he joined after completing dental school. He came to Chinook "because I was looking for a solo practice." Chaffin bought the dental clinic from Dr. Dan Harry who owned and operated the practice since 1985. The Chinook Dental Clinic is still housed in the Sweet Medical Center facility.

Reflecting on his decision to come to Chinook, Dr. Chaffin said, "It's been really good. I wanted a practice with a hometown feel and I found that here."

About his decision to move the practice, Chaffin explained, "We've needed more space for the practice for some time plus the current space is not handicap accessible." He added that consideration was given to constructing additional space at the present location and making the existing clinic handicap accessible. "That," he said, "would involve doing the work while still operating the clinic and seeing patients. Adding new space and remodeling the current clinic would cost more than purchasing and reconfiguring the Wells Fargo building." He noted, "I'd looked at several other alternatives, including constructing a new building to house the clinic. Purchasing the old bank building made a lot of sense as far as cost, usable space and location."

Dr. Robert Chaffin began his dental practice in Chinook in January, 2015. The Idaho native came to Chinook from Hamilton, looking for a "solo practice in a place with a hometown feel." He and his family make their home in Chinook. He recently purchased the former Wells Fargo Bank building in Chinook and plans to move his dental practice there within the year.

Current plans call for the entire main floor to be used for the dental practice-including a patient waiting room, relocated bathrooms, staff offices and the clinical facility. As to the rest of the building, Chaffin said, "The upstairs, or loft, has two conference rooms. There are no plans at this point to use either the upstairs or the basement for the practice." Some necessary asbestos abatement has been completed and immediate plans call for the bathrooms, currently upstairs, to be relocated to the main floor. That will conclude what needs to be done until remodeling for the clinic begins. A dental architect studied the space in the spring and made suggestions how the main floor might be laid out.

Dr. Chaffin described some changes he hopes to incorporate into the new space. He said the clinic will continue as a solo practice (only one dentist) but "I am hoping to add one more dental chair and hire an additional dental assistant." He said there would be some new dental equipment added and creating some specialized space that is not in the current location. Chaffin anticipates the move to the new space will happen "within the year."

The current space used by the dental clinic at the Sweet Medical Center is still owned by Dr. Harry. Allison Gray, Site Director for the Sweet Medical Center, said, "The Center would be interested in the space once it is vacated."

 
 

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