Quarantine tales from the early 1900s — Part 2
Published 3:30 pm Monday, April 13, 2020
The current Covid-19 outbreak has people locked up at home for the time being, but it is far from a new experience on the Harbor. Earlier communicable diseases (smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever) required in-house detainment on a case-by-case basis, and authorities took a dim view of violators as seen in more stories from the Aberdeen Herald.
SCARLET FEVER CASES ARE PUT UNDER QUARANTINE — HOQUIAM — Two children of Mr. and Mrs. H.D. McKenney, 408 Sixth Street, are ill with scarlet fever, and the residence has been placed under quarantine by Health Officer R.F. Hunter. The children are not seriously ill and Dr. Hunter is of the opinion that there is little danger of the malady spreading. He placed the house under quarantine promptly on discovering that the children were suffering from scarlet fever. — April 20, 1911
John Landers, the sage of the Wishkah, is down from his farm at Grand Forks, awaiting the release of Mrs. Landers from quarantine. Mrs. Landers and little daughter were visiting her daughter, Mrs. Dan Pearsall, when the younger girl was taken with scarlet fever, and the house has been quarantined for several weeks. — May 8, 1911
Mr. and Mrs. John Endbom were arrested Friday, charged with having violated the quarantine regulations, and will have a hearing this afternoon before Judge Tucker. Health Officer Schumacher is determined to stamp out the mild epidemic of scarlet fever, but finds himself seriously handicapped by a disposition on the part of many to disregard the quarantine regulations. — May 29, 1911
A light case of scarlet fever is reported at the home of Rev. E. Burton, pastor of the Baptist Church. One of the small boys is affected and while the case is not severe, quarantine is of course established. Rev. and Mrs. Burton, however, by living in a separate part of the house, are free from quarantine regulations. Mrs. J. M. Stevens, Mrs. Burton’s mother, is looking after the children. — June 26, 1911
HAVE SMALLPOX UNDER CONTROL — Dr. Mayme MacLafferty Tells of Affairs on Indian Reservation – MOCLIPS – With four cases of smallpox under quarantine in a house four miles from the Indian village of Tahola (sic), the men in charge of the village believe they have the epidemic well in hand. Dr. MacLafferty, who is in charge of the quarantine, says that there is no danger of the disease spreading, if the Indians are careful. While a number have been exposed, yet there is no danger of cases breaking out, as nearly all have been vaccinated. It is believed that officials will ask the county to patrol the Moclips River and prevent Indians from coming to this city from the reservation, until all danger is over. The village has been cleaned up and the Indians are using great care and vigilance in stamping out the disease.
Mrs. Dr. Mayme MacLafferty reached Aberdeen this morning from Tahola, where she spent several days, and says that everything on the reservation is in good shape. She says there are only five cases and the stories that there were more are not true. All cases are isolated and she is of the opinion that the disease will be eradicated soon. — February 12, 1912
ANOTHER CASE OF SMALLPOX — Another care of smallpox has broken out in the house of Silas Hill on the Quiniault (sic) Indian reservation and the place is again under strict quarantine. The quarantine was to have been raised last Sunday but Allotting Agent F.R. Archer called in Dr. MacLafferty who issued the order that the house must remain under quarantine again.
Considerable has been said and printed concerning a statement made by Mr. Archer several days ago, regarding conditions on the reservation and physicians have been quoted regarding the matter, saying that everything was in good shape. Mr. Archer, speaking of the matter said: “I have been interested in this matter because I did not care to see the dread disease spread over the county. I have maintained all along that the matter had not been properly handled and I still say so. What has happened on the reservation is known only to a few and I want to say that the Indians were entitled to stricter regulations and better care than they got.” — February 22, 1912
A mild case of smallpox was reported yesterday in the family of M. Polinski, 311 North Washington Street. The house is quarantined, and Health Officer Schumacher reports no danger of the spreading of the disease. — April 11, 1912
KAUFMAN RELEASED — Arrested on the charge of violating the quarantine law, N.G. Kaufman, a well-known resident of this city was forced to appear in police court yesterday afternoon. After consenting to return to his home, however, the case was dismissed, and his bail of $25 was refunded. Mr. Kaufman, it is said, occupied a house in which there was a scarlet fever patient and he persisted in leaving the house, notwithstanding the instructions of Health Officer L.L. Goodnow, who caused the arrest. — November 21, 1912
George Ross, a member of the fire department, is ill, with what is thought to be chicken pox, and the fire station is under quarantine for a few days, until the disease develops. — January 6, 1913
The attention of the health committee was called to the fact that quarantine regulations are not being followed by a number of families and that new cases of a contagious disease are reported from some of the schools daily. The health officer is ill in the hospital and his deputy will be asked to “get busy.” — May 16, 1913
FULLER HOME BURNS — The home of James H. Fuller, assistant cashier of Hayes & Hayes Bank, on the corner of Fourth and G Streets, was partially destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon. The fire started on the roof where moss had accumulated, and had quite a start before the alarm was turned in, and the roof was destroyed before the blaze was extinguished. The damage by fire and water will approximate $2,000 covered by insurance.
The house was under on account of the illness of the three small children, who are now recovered and are at the home of Mrs. Fuller’s parents, Rev. and Mrs. Charles McDermoth. — May 27, 1913
Police Matron Mrs. Ida Schofield, who has been quarantined at the isolation hospital for scarlet fever, contracted while attending an infected family some time ago, expects to be able to come home in about a week. — September 1, 1916
The 10-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Clark, 2300 Cherry Street succumbed to diphtheria Sunday. Funeral services will be held next week following the release of the family from quarantine. — March 2, 1917
Roy Vataja is the son of Finnish immigrants and continues to sit on the couch at home, trolling through old newspapers, waiting for the Stay Home order to be lifted. Just like everyone else.
