West Fort Dodge Protests
The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 16, 1904
West Fort Dodge Protests
Against Location of the Pest House on That Side.
Board of Health meets and Revokes its Action Taken Monday Night.
The residents of West Fort Dodge were up in arms Tuesday and this morning when they learned of the arrangements made by the board of health for the location of a temporary pest house on the west side of the river. The West Siders were so vehement in their protests against such a step that a special meeting of the board of health was held this morning and its action of Monday night revoked.
Following the council meeting Monday night the board of health made arrangements by which a house near the river bank, just west of Duck Island was to be used as a temporary pest house in which the health officers were to place Harry Kettering, the man now at the Merchant’s Hotel suffering from smallpox. The house is owned by August Swanson. John Nelson, the agent of Mr. Swanson, secured the consent of the owner of the building and made arrangements with the city for the removal of Kettering. When the residents of West Fort Dodge learned that a pest house was to be maintained so near their homes they arose in protest and great was the indignation that descended upon the head of Mr. Nelson.
Protests were made to the mayor and this morning a meeting of the board of health was called, with the result that the disposition of the smallpox patient is still a matter that is worrying the health authorities. Mr. Nelson says that he would have refrained from offering the house had he thought there would be any objection on the part of the West Side citizens and when he learned of their objection he was one of the first to request the board to revoke its action.
(Editor’s note: The original article is located here: Afflicted Persons Allowed Freedom.)
Tags: 1904, Duck Island, Kettering, Nelson, smallpox, Swanson