The medical building at 130 N. Detroit St. was built by Dr. Guy H. Swan in 1910. Since that date, the structure has been known as the “Swan Building”. It served as the medical office of at least eleven doctors, including three generations of Costin family physicians.
Guy H. Swan was the son of Edwin A. Swan, M.D. who practiced in Bellefontaine for over twenty years. After graduating from the Detroit College of Medicine in 1903, Dr. Guy H. Swan opened his practice on W. Chillicothe Ave. Seven years later, he opened his bungalow type office on N. Detroit St. along with Edward V.M. Thompson DDS. They treated patients at this location until 1927 when the office was purchased by Dr. Ralph H. Van Vleck who had practiced in Bellefontaine for several years. At that time, Dr. Thompson moved his office to the Empire Block, and Dr. Swan moved to New Jersey where he was on staff at the Paul Kimble Hospital in Lakewood, New Jersey. In 1932, Dr. John W. Morrow went into partnership with Dr. Van Vleck.
Dr. James F. Costin, son of Zohar and Cora Fisher Costin, was born in Bellefontaine in 1912. He played football at Bellefontaine High School for coach Harold A. Dodd and graduated in 1931. After high school, Costin enrolled at Kirksville Osteopathic School in Missouri. There he met and married Eleanor Frances Singer in 1934. Dr. Costin received his Osteopathy Degree in 1937 and then returned to Bellefontaine where he went into partnership with Dr. Morrow and Dr. Van Vleck at the Swan Building.
Dr. Costin frequently made house calls and delivered many babies at home. He was often paid with whatever the patient could give, such as a pig or chicken, rather than money. He also became the doctor for the Bellefontaine High School football team. If a player was injured, he was the first one on the field, whether it was a Chieftain or an opponent. Dr. George Nixon aided Dr. Costin on the sidelines. Dr. Costin was the team doctor for 50 years.
Dr. Van Vleck left the office in 1938 and moved to Michigan. Dr. Morrow and Dr. Costin continued working together until about 1958 when Dr. Morrow built a new office at 412 E. Columbus Ave.
Dr. Costin began administering anesthesia at Mary Rutan Hospital in 1945 and continued until the late 1970s. He introduced epidural anesthetics at the hospital, served as Chief of Staff and was the first physician on the Board of Trustees.
Dr. Walter L. Collins Jr, a graduate of the Kirksville College of Osteopathy, joined the practice in 1958. In April 1961, Dr. Wilbert Blair Casey, the nephew of Dr. Costin, closed his office at 107 N. Detroit St. and became a partner of Dr. Costin and Dr. Collins. At that time, office staff included Dorothy Farrington, Mary Hall and Marilyn Elliott.
In the 1960s and 1970s, medical students from the Kirksville Osteopathic School did their internship with Dr. Costin for one to two years periods. The students stayed in the upper level of the office while they worked at the office.
Dr. Casey passed away unexpectedly in 1966, and Dr. Collins left the practice in 1971. Dr. Costin’s son, Art, receive his Doctor of Osteopathy degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathy in 1974. After completing an internship at Carson City Osteopathic Hospital in Carson City, he joined his father’s practice. In 1975, Dr. Art Costin began delivering babies at Mary Rutan Hospital because they did not have an obstetrician on staff. Dr. Art recalled “I was able to deliver about 1,000 babies over 10 years. It was so special to be the first one to hold those babies and to share the experience with the families.”
The Costins established a second office at 303 E. Main St. in Russells Point in 1980. Dr. Steven P. Hooley was associated with the practice from 1983 to 1985.
In February 1985, the Costin Family Practice opened the Logan County Industrial Clinic at their office. They served as company physicians for more than 30 major Logan County businesses and corporations including Mary Rutan Hospital, Bellefontaine City Schools, Wal-Mart, the City of Bellefontaine, Transportation Research Center and others.
Before Dr. James Costin retired in 1990, he was named the Bellefontaine Rotary Club Citizen of the Year and was honored by Mary Rutan Hospital for 50 years of medical practice and his pioneering efforts in anesthesia.
Dr. Marsha Turner was associated with the practice from 1990 to 1993. Dr. Thomas E. Darrah came to the Costin Family Practice as an intern and returned in 1992 after receiving his medical degree. Dr. Art Costin’ son, Dr. Scott Z. Costin, became the third generation to practice in the Swan Building in 1998. He received his degree from Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
In late 2022, Dr. Art Costin retired with nearly 50 years of medical service. Costin Family Practice is currently operated by Dr. Scott Z. Costin and U.S. Navy Veteran, Dr. Brian Schmidt. They see patients at their Bellefontaine and Russells Point locations. On January 20, 2025, Costin Family Practice moved to their new location at 921 E. Sandusky Ave. The Swan Building had finally outgrown their medical needs.
The Costin Family Practice has truly been a family office. Most of their staff members have worked for the Practice for many years and become family. Generations of families have trusted the medical expertise and care they have received and continue to receive.
A special thank you to Dr. Scott Z. Costin, Megan Hogue, office manager, and Mary Hall, former office manager, for sharing the Costin Family Practice history and photos.
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