Dr. Mahlon W. Locke 1880-1942

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2005

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2009

Plaque Location

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
The Township of South Dundas
In Williamsburg, on the north side of Road 18
just east of Road 31 at street number 12385

Coordinates: N 44 58.521 W 75 14.582

Plaque Text

Born in nearby Matilda township, Locke studied medicine at Queen's University in Scotland. In 1908 he opened his medical office in this house. Interested in arthritis, which he believed was caused principally by fallen arches, he treated many arthritics in the following years by manual manipulation of their feet. Large numbers of his patients claimed to be cured or relieved by this method and his reputation spread across North America and overseas. From 1928 onwards thousands of the sick visited Dr. Locke in Williamsburg where he reportedly treated hundreds of persons daily. During the depression years this enormous influx brought significant prosperity to the region.

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Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted February 9, 2012
My mother and father went to Canada in the 1930's for treatment by Dr. Locke. Mom had osteo as well as rheumatoid arthritis and her feet were so crippled she could hardly walk. I don't recall where she heard about Dr. Locke but because dad was a railroad engineer, they had a free pass to go by rail from central Kansas, for mom to see Dr. Locke. It was during the Depression and they'd never have been able to afford such a long trip had dad not been an RR engineer. She came home saying she felt she was "cured" and for the first time in a long while, she could walk without severe pain in her feet. Dr. Locke fitted her with "special" shoes which which she wore the rest of her life. She died in a car accident in 1967 but swore Dr. Locke helped her more than any medicine her family doctor had given her.

Posted September 1, 2011
My father visited Dr. Locke around 1935. The family have a lot of negatives of pictures taken then. I wonder if there is a museum in the area that would be interested in them. I plan to drive to the area just to see the house one day.

Posted February 17, 2011
In 1935 My Grandparents traveled from Eagle,Colorado to spend several months in Williamsburg. My Grandfather had severe arthritis and received numerous treatments from Dr. Locke. The stayed in Strader's Boarding House?

Posted February 23, 2010
My father and mother both visited Dr. Locke in the late thirties and early forties. I was a child and remember them on returning from such a visit remarking that there was a large room with chairs around the edge filled with people. At the set time for the appointment, Dr. Locke would move around the room tending to physically handling the problem area. In my parents case it was their feet. He would twist the foot in a particular way and move on to the next person.

Posted October 8, 2008
Heey. i'm one of the family members who live in Dr.Lockes house. the bottom right of this picture there is a brown rectangle thing. thats part of my playhouse in the side yard :) this is cool. i just thought id search seeing if i could find any pictures and sure enough theres this onee :)

Posted August 14, 2008
Hello Mr.Brown, congratulations on your important work which you obviously do with passion. Does anyone know of resources to find photos and more information on Dr.Locke.
Thank you very much, Spiros spirosreflex@in.gr

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