Memories - Walter Eisworth, M.D.

Life on Byron St.

November 2, 2015 by Elizabeth Eisworth

Memories of life on Byron St. in North Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Byron St. House where Walter Eisworth's wife grew up. — The house on Byron St. in the 1960’s

The House on Byron Street

William Tennyson Arnold (W.T.) and Marcia Broome Guice Arnold lived in a quaint little brick house on Byron St. in Baton Rouge, LA.

The house was directly behind W.T.’s store on Plank Road.

Stoop kids - Cousins on the steps of Grandma's Byron St. House — Stoop kids – Cousins on the steps of Grandma’s Byron St. House in 1971

Walter Eisworth married W.T. and Marcia’s daughter in 1965 and spent a good amount of time in their home on Byron St. (pictured) throughout the 1960’s.

This video is a compilation of several Byron St. home movies from that era.

See the house as it is now on Google Maps »

Arnold’s Toy Store

Life on Byron St. - Baton Rouge, LA — Arnold’s Toy Store and Hinson Hardware & Garden Supply – 1960’s

ad-for-arnolds-toys — An advertisement for Arnold’s Toys from the October 17, 1959 newspaper lists the weekly specials.

In the 1960’s, W.T.’s store on Plank Rd. was Arnold’s Toy Store (pictured). Before that, it was a Plee-zing Food Store. In addition to groceries, he sold general store type items and “Esso” gasoline out front (Esso stood for S.O. – Standard Oil, which later became Exxon). [Courtesy: Tales in the Tree)

An advertisement for his store from the October 17, 1959 newspaper lists the weekly specials.

Walter’s brother-in-law, Ray Hinson, owned an adjacent hardware and garden supply store named “Hinson’s Hardware and Garden Supply” (pictured).

Walter’s niece, Melinda Hinson Holloway, writes about W.T.’s and her father’s store in her blog post, A Tale of Two Stores.

Walter Eisworth and Ray Hinson - 4770 Plank Rd. Baton Rouge, LA — Walter Eisworth and Ray Hinson in front of Hinson’s Hardware & Garden Supply – 4770 Plank Rd. Baton Rouge, LA – 1960’s

Long Story Short…He saved our daughter’s life.

October 1, 2015 by Elizabeth Eisworth

When our second daughter was 6 weeks old, the Eisworth/Hannan team came to Zachary. They saw patients in a extra ER room.

I went with our second daughter as an infant because she was not sleeping well at 6 weeks. Our oldest was 3 1/2.

After checking both of our daughters out throughly, he said “I can give you something to help the baby sleep, but my main concern is your older daughter”. Shocked us! We had noticed bruising, but thought it was normal.

He got blood drawn immediately! Long story short…He SAVED HER LIFE. She had NO PLATELETS, AND ANTIBOTIES ON HER RED BLOOD CELLS. He took us HIMSELF, to N.O. when he found out a team of Hemotologist were at the big charity hosp doing studies.

They took our daughter, took bone marrow, and came up with the plan, (cocktail) of meds. It took 2 years to cure her, but HE, and his staff were like family to us.

Walter, rest in peace dear heart.

His words, kindness and reassurance is something that we will never forget.

September 12, 2015 by Elizabeth Eisworth

Dr. Eisworth was our son’s doctor and was so kind to us after we lost him.

He met with us late in the evening at his office after he went over the coroner’s report. He explained everything to us and put our hearts and minds at ease that our son passed from SIDS and there was nothing that we had done wrong as parents.

His words, kindness and reassurance is something that we will never forget and something that helped us keep our sanity and was instrumental in us being able to get through such a devastating time. I am so very sorry for you and your family. Just wanted to share with you what an important role he played in our lives.

Needlework and Lacework

August 26, 2015 by Elizabeth Eisworth

This is picture of some of my Dad’s handiwork. He had the patience to sit for hours and do detailed things like tat lace.

In this picture are also a couple of his tatting shuttles with unfinished projects attached. I remember those little pelican snippers from when I was young. I recall he made a lot of lace cross bookmarks.

The needlework in the background is something Mom started and Dad finished…which was a common theme in our house. <3

Dr. Eisworth was truly a physician called by God.

August 7, 2015 by Elizabeth Eisworth

I had a 2 year old and a 4 year old and gave birth to a premie. Though he wasn’t our doctor, Dr. Eisworth took on the care of my premie. He met with me every morning at his office before hours to check her vitals and weigh her and ensure she was viable.

As she continued to grow he continued to monitor for three months. He never charged me. When we had an illness, he treated all three for the price of one. He would give me samples of medications so I didnt have to pay for prescriptions. His love and care and true nurturing nature will always stand out. Dr. Eisworth was truly a physician called by God. May God bless him and his family.

~ Deanna B., Houston, Texas

I will never forget his kindness.

July 18, 2015 by Elizabeth Eisworth

So saddened to hear of the loss of Dr.Eisworth. He was all of my children’s pediatrician back in the early 80’s until they outgrew him. He was always gentle and loving with them. As a very young mother who already had a 2 yr old then had twins, too, there were so many times he would only charge me for one when he would check all three.

He cared for my twins when they were sick weeks early constantly by there side at Lane for a month. It would be hard these days to find a man with such generosity and compassion. I will never forget his kindness. My prayers are with the family.

~Lisa S., Zachary, Louisiana

Memorial Service for Walter H. Eisworth, M.D.

July 18, 2015 by Elizabeth Eisworth

Dad’s service was on Saturday, July 18th at The Rock Church in Zachary. We played the video below at the end of his service.

My brothers did a wonderful job speaking about Dad, and Asher pointed out how this song (Pachelbel’s Canon in D) was Dad’s favorite. Asher remarked how it starts slow, gets busy in the middle and then slows down at the end…. and how that is very much a parallel of our lives.

That whole day is a blur, and I don’t have any pictures from his service, but some things that were special touches for Dad were including his ‘sticker box’ full of stickers at the guest book table. Dr. Eisworth’s sticker box is well-remembered by the children of Zachary who are now all grown.

We also displayed some of his favorite mementos and handiwork on a table at the front. Dad was skilled with his hands both as a doctor and in creating needlework and tatting.

He was an awesome man.

July 16, 2015 by Elizabeth Eisworth

I am 26 years old now. Dr. Eisworth was my pediatrician many years ago. He was an amazing man and doctor. I havent forgotten all the stickers he used to give us when we came in. There was no limit.

He made is all better and was always so sweet. I even had the privilege to be taught in high school by his son Seth. This is a tremendous loss. He was an awesome man.

I guess you can say he planted the seed of me wanting to work in the medical field and with pediatrics at that. I wanted to make people feel better as he did me so many years ago. You will be missed Doc, fly high!

~ Stacey D., Walker, Louisiana

Walter H. Eisworth Obituary

July 15, 2015 by Elizabeth Eisworth

Following is Dad’s obituary that was published in the Morning Advocate.

Walter Hosea Eisworth, M.D. was born on May 31, 1944. He died on Sunday, July 12, 2015 at age 71. He graduated from Istrouma High, LSU, and LSU Medical School. He was a pediatrician for 30 years for the children of Zachary and surrounding areas. He is survived by the mother of his children and best friend, Marcia Arnold Eisworth, and his four children: Todd, Elizabeth, Seth, and Asher. He is also survived by his brother, Robert Eisworth, 11 grandchildren, and one great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents: Walter Jones Eisworth and Indiana Marie Turner Eisworth, and his sister Judy Eisworth McBride. Visitation will be Saturday, July 18 from 9am-12pm and services to follow at 12pm at The Rock Church, 20810 Plank Rd, Zachary, La 70791. Interment immediately following at Roselawn Cemetery, 4045 North Street, Baton Rouge, La 70806. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his honor to The Children’s Miracle Network or a charity of your choice. Share sympathies, memories, and condolences at www.CharletFuneralHome.com.

1979 Eisworth Trip to Vermont: The Trip From Hell

June 18, 1979 by Elizabeth Eisworth

The Van and Mom's Roses — A little bit of The Van can be seen in this pic and also Mom's lovely roses. 🙂

In the summer of 1979, the Eisworths embarked on a 3-week-long 'vacation' (referred to by my Dad as The Trip from Hell). The final destination was a medical conference in Warren, VT. I think my parents optimistically thought this would be an ideal opportunity to show us all the historical landmarks between Zachary, LA and Vermont. Dad always loved history, and so on this trip he tried to hit every Civil War battlefield he could.

We made the trip in a green and white 1977 or 1978 Dodge Van which you can see in the pic. Todd later became renowned in high school for driving this same green van with the windshield wiper fluid jets pointed outward (for assault purposes :P)

Pimping Our Ride

Grandma Arnold accompanied us on the trip, so there were 7 of us in the van for 3 weeks. In an effort to cut down on bathroom stops, my parents purchased and installed a portable camper toilet that went in the back of the van. It was green so it matched the van....always riding in style.

The second row bench seat was removed and Dad built a wooden L-shaped bench in the back of the van to replace the missing seating. The new bench provided space underneath for storing suitcases and where little brothers could hide and play. There were no seatbelts...it was the 70's. At the lower end of the L in the rear of the van, there was a hinged portion that could be lifted to reveal the toilet.

Mom made green gingham-covered foam cushions for the bench and put matching curtains on the windows of the van. There was a "modesty" curtain the occupant of the toilet could pull around themselves. I remember the toilet made an awful suctioning sound when it flushed...it wasn't really a flush even...it was just a series of disgusting slurps.

The "modesty curtain" wasn't really designed to stay in place when negotiating the twists and turns of the Blue Ridge Parkway at speed. Grandma didn't get the privacy we all would have preferred....

As an adult with kids of my own, I cannot even imagine making a trip like this!

Gas Rationing

It was the year of the Iranian revolution, and that disrupted gas supplies in the US. We were in Pennsylvania when gas rationing went into effect, and the crazy gas situation was why we stayed away from NYC and Philadelphia.

June 18, 1979 - Walter Eisworth and family in Washington D.C. - Todd is the cameraman. (Grandma Arnold, Liz, Asher, Marcia, Seth and Dad)

The Trip from Hell: Washington D.C. Leg

One of the stops on the 3 week long Eisworth Family "Trip from Hell" to Vermont was Washington D.C.

The Presidential Gardens

Mom had planned the trip out and arranged for us to stay in a refurbished apartment building she found called "The Presidential Gardens Motor Hotel" in Alexandria, VA. When we arrived, it was really shabby (compared to what was expected) and in a sketchy part of town. She said it felt a bit like the low-income housing projects in which she and Dad had lived in New Orleans while he was in medical school. I believe the exact terminology was "Glorified Projects".

Todd remembers that Mom and Dad had the brochure for the place and complained to the owners about false advertisement! Each suite was named after a President, and Dad joked that they should name them after the "bad presidents".

These should be named after Fillmore or Harding instead of Washington and Lincoln!

Liz, Mom, Asher, Todd and Seth at The Presidential Gardens in Alexandria, VA in June 1979

The place had a kitchen where Grandma Arnold made dinner, and they made the best of it because it would have been too expensive to move to a hotel and still be able to feed everyone. Mom can't remember how she found the place, and I have no idea how you found places to stay before the internet...I guess a travel agent or travel magazine - ?

The picture of the place doesn't look that bad to me, but I think a lot may have had to do with the sketchy neighborhood feeling since we had to walk a couple of blocks from public transportation back to the apartment.

The Presidential Gardens is still there and now called the Presidential Greens Apartments.

Presidential Gardens Motor Hotel is a delightfully unique place to stay when visiting the nation’s capitol. Over 225 deluxe family suites, fully furnished to the last teacup, secluded from the annoyances of the city and highways, yet so convenient to everything.

Visiting Representative Henson Moore

Mom arranged with Representative Henson Moore's office to visit him while we were in Washington, D.C. In the picture below, Asher and Seth are doodling on the Panama Canal Treaty document in Representative Moore's office.

Walter Eisworth: Visiting Henson Moore's Office

Todd, Liz and Seth in front of the condominium at The Bridges in Warren, VT — Todd, Liz and Asher (and Seth in the bushes) in front of the condominium at The Bridges in Warren, VT

Final Destination: Warren, VT

In Warren, VT, we stayed in a condominium at "The Bridges" which is still there today. In the picture you can see what looks like some ski slopes in the distance.

I have a memory of us kids wandering down the side of the mountain and finding a large rock outcropping overlooking a valley. As a kid from the very flat state of Louisiana, the drop-off seemed scary, and I remember worrying that Asher and Seth might fall off.

Other Memories from this Trip

My lips were chapped really badly 90% of the time! I carried a tube of zinc oxide around. I am surprised my lips aren't slathered in it in any of these pictures.
We fought a lot over taking pictures with the Polaroid camera. If only we knew how expensive each blurry, botched pic was.
Asher, who was 5, took two of the most picturesque photos from the trip (see gallery below)
Seth walked off with a piece of the Appomattox Courthouse...some bit of crumbled masonry from an exterior wall. We didn't know about it until he mentioned it a couple of days later.
Todd was an aggravator and the van was tight quarters even for the most close-knit family. We were regularly yelling his name to stop doing whatever annoying thing he had decided to inflict upon us. At one point in the drive, my parents threatened "Todd, if we hear your name one more time....[some empty threat]!". Todd slumped back in his seat in compliance. Of course, never missing an opportunity to indict an innocent sibling, there was about 1 second of silence before Seth, Asher and I yelled "TODD!" simultaneously.
We also saw one of the last living Shaker communities, Monticello, Battlefield Park, Colonial Williamsburg, Mt. Vernon, The Sunken Road and Valley Forge.