Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
RETIRING — Dr. Bruce Harvey, far right, has retired from his chiropractic office in Houlton after 27 years of service. Harvey has spent the past year working alongside Dr. Chris Bell, who purchased the practice in September, 2012. From left are, Dr. Bell, Martha Bell, Michelle Harvey and Dr. Harvey.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Making adjustments is something that Dr. Bruce Harvey and Dr. Chris Bell are quite familiar with, as the duo has operated a chiropractic business in Houlton for a number of years.
Their latest adjustment, however, has nothing to do with seeing patients as Harvey has decided the time has come to retire after 27 years of practicing chiropractic care.
Harvey and his wife Michelle are moving to Port Orange, Fla., just south of Daytona Beach.
Harvey began working with Dr. Charles Nadeau in August 1986 in the former Blackhawk Putnam building. In April of 1987, Harvey took over the practice and in June 1990, he relocated the office to its current location on 22 B Road.
Harvey bought his current building from Al Putnam and Phil Jordan, who were then owners of WHOU radio station, which was located beside Harvey’s practice.
“We couldn’t put a metal roof on the building because of their radio towers,” Harvey said. “In the afternoon, when it was going to storm, you knew the storms were coming because we would look out the back window and literally see fireballs rolling down the cables.”
Harvey, a native of St. Francis, came to the Houlton area with Nadeau when he opened his practice. Harvey soon fell in love with the community and decided it would be a great place to settle and raise a family in. His wife is originally from Fort Kent. The two were high school sweethearts.
“Houlton has always been very kind to us,” Harvey said. “To have so many people entrust their confidence with us is quite humbling.”
Chiropractic care has become more accepted over the years, Harvey said. A great deal of that acceptance stems from more education on the benefits of chiropractic care.
“When I first came here, a lot of people had a different perception of what chiropractic care was all about,” Harvey said. He recalls telling one of his first patients that he wanted to take an X-ray of their back and they were surprised he wanted to do that instead of simply cracking the person’s back.
“I think there is also more of a trend of people wanting to deal with their health in a more holistic nature,” Harvey added.
In January of 2001, his wife Michelle opened Tanning Plus in the loft above Harvey’s chiropractic office. In 2008, Tanning Plus became Tanning Plus and Specialty Boutique, offering gowns and formal wear. Later on, more women’s clothing was added, along with jewelry, bags and accessories.
Harvey has been slowly phasing himself out of the office. In September, 2012, Harvey sold his part of the practice to Bell.
Dr. Bell said he was originally interested in health care/physical therapy. But while at the University of Maine at Orono, he developed shoulder issues and came to Dr. Harvey for treatment. His interaction with Harvey spurred him into the chiropractic field.
“I actually spent a summer here job shadowing,” he said. “After graduating from Orono, I went to Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. It’s the founding school of chiropractic care and the same one that Dr. Harvey went to.”
Dr. Bell graduated in October, 2004, and moved to North Carolina, where he practiced for about four years before moving back to Houlton for an opportunity to work with Dr. Harvey.
“Even with Dr. Harvey leaving, we will try to accommodate new patients,” Bell said. “We have introduced electronic health records to make things more efficient. We’ll still be providing the same level of care.”
Bell’s wife Martha has taken over the retail boutique and has ideas for future expansion at the B Road location.
Bell said Harvey gave him one word of advice for working closely with a spouse.
“Dr. Harvey told me the one phrase I need to know is ‘Yes Dear,’” he joked.
Harvey has seen a multitude of clients over the years. He said he would miss the daily interaction with patients, many of whom have been with him from the beginning.
“I have always considered my job to be a serving position,” he said. “I have always considered it a privilege to have people trust me with their health care.”
In Florida, Harvey said he has no immediate plans for opening a practice. Instead, he and Michelle will spend time walking along the beach. His daughter, Theresa, is in her second year of chiropractic school in Port Orange, Fla., which is one of the reasons the couple decided to move to that area. Dr. Harvey said he plans to do some volunteer work at the college and may volunteer in their clinic.
Harvey has no immediate plans to sell Main Street Fitness, located in downtown Houlton.
“We’re still established here in Houlton, so we will be coming back to visit,” he said.
