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

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 9, 1904

Afflicted Persons Allowed Freedom

Smallpox Case at Merchants Hotel Leads to Discovery of Startling Facts.

Family Suffers From Disease

But Until Tuesday Not Reported – Meanwhile Guests Come and Go.

If the statement made by the health authorities is true a number of cases of smallpox have existed in the city for several weeks and until Tuesday no effort has been made to report the disease to the proper officers, nor was there quarantine established, the afflicted premises being accessible to many persons during the time the sickness existed.

Tuesday a case of smallpox was reported at the Merchant’s hotel between Seventh and Eighth streets on First avenue north. The place was quarantined and now it is said that an investigation had led to the discovery that the disease has existing in the hotel for some time. M. L. Sperry, the proprietor, his wife and several of the children have had the disease, according to the report, and the children have been attending school.

It is also claimed that a teacher in the school attended by the children has been a sufferer from the disease. The malady has existed in a light form and as the several members of the family have suffered from it they have been kept in their rooms, but no medical attendance has been engaged.

A few days ago, Harry Kettering, a man of all work who has been employed at the hotel for his board, who was taken sick and showed symptoms of the disease. He was sent to a physician by the proprietor and returned to the hotel saying that the doctor pronounced him to be suffering from smallpox. His case continued to grow worse and he was again sent to the physician. the latter reports that his visit Tuesday was the first and then it only took him a short time to discover that he was afflicted with smallpox.

The health authorities were immediately notified by the physician and the hotel placed under quarantine. This morning City Physician C.H. Churchill visited the hotel and was told by the proprietor that himself and family had suffered what seemed to be the same disease but that they recovered and medical attention was not necessary.

There were a number of quests at the hotel Tuesday and those who did not leave will probably have to remain in quarantine until released by the proper authorities. The particular danger that has existed has been the coming and going of guests at the hotel while the disease has been prevalent.

Kettering is now kept in a room at the hotel. This morning a man named Dean applied for the privilege of removing the patient to his home, where he said he would care for him. Kettering, it seems, had been at the Dean home since he has been suffering from smallpox and even if he is not removed there the house will probably be quarantined.

Providing is it learned where inmates of the hotel have been during the past week or so, several more quarantines may be established.

(Editor’s note: An update on this story is located here: West Fort Dodge Protests.)

Tags: 1904, Churchill, Dean, Kettering, Merchant's Hotel, smallpox, Sperry