This year is the 80th anniversary of Doc Bowen coming to Bremen, Indiana. Doc Bowen served as a family doctor in Bremen, delivering babies from 1946 to 1972, with the last one being Bridget [Lees] Johnson.

Otis “Doc” Bowen came to Bremen in 1946 after serving in the Pacific theater in WW2. He took over the practice of Dr Homer Burke, who left for Puerto Rico.

1946 – Dr Otis R Bowen arrives – Bremen Enquirer

Burke had had a “maternity hospital” in a house at 122 S Center St, across from what is today the police station.

Dr Burke’s “maternity hospital” in the 1940s, with an iron staircase at the back.
The former maternity hospital, now at 116 N Huff Street, still has the iron staircase at the back.

The Baby Boom quickly moved to the new hospital, which itself had begun in a house, but had previously been a convalescent home for elderly patients. For a time after the death of founder Erma Myers RN, it was operated by the Brethren Church before becoming Bremen Community Hospital. The first baby delivered there was John A Felten, but the attending physician wasn’t mentioned.

1947 – Meyer home becomes hospital – Bremen Enquirer

Doc continued delivering babies, perhaps dozens every year, for 26 years and numbering over 1000 (3000 by some estimates). His last was Bridget Ann Lees (later Johnson) in 1972, after he’d been elected governor.

2000-10-12 – Bridget Lees last Bowen baby – South Bend Tribune