PEST HOUSE

Pest House. The Pest (as in pestilence) House was a quarantine site where people with contagious diseases were placed away from the population and sometimes treated. (1) In Canada they were called "fever sheds." By ordinance in 1837, there was established a port physician in Dubuque whose duty it was to board every steamboat or other vessel coming from any port known to be infected with any disease and examine the passengers and crew prior to their landing. All such persons were to be prevented from landing. (2)

A temporary quarantine hospital was established "a quarter of a mile south of Webb's old furnace below Dirty Hollow" around June 1, 1852. It cost $325; mattresses cost $8.00. (3) This is now the area of South Locust, Southern Avenue and Railroad Avenue.

In the spring of 1855, a CHOLERA outbreak was brought to Dubuque by sick people arriving here by boat. The Dubuque City Council authorized Dr. Edward Donn, city health officer, aided by city police and the marshal to stop all boats arriving from the south and check all passengers. Money was authorized to renovate the quarantine hospital near the river and to construct a road from Railroad Avenue to the site. Officially, the building became known as a "SMALLPOX Hospital" or "Detention House." Unofficially and in the newspaper, the name "pest house" was commonly used.

In June 1869, the Board of Health appropriated money to build a new house to quarantine people with communicable diseases. Various sites were considered, but no site was determined until 1871. The City of Dubuque purchased a lot on a hillside on the west side of Langworthy Hollow (now North Grandview Avenue near Kaufmann, which is part of BUNKER HILL GOLF COURSE. The site was then outside the city limits. (4)

In November 1881, the "pest house" was enlarged. When city and county officials considered upgrading it again, however, there were many protests from property owners. When the "pest house" was originally built in 1871, that area was timber and far from the residential district. In 1894, homes were too close and people were concerned about the "pest house" affecting the water quality in the area.

In 1894 the city's growth had made the once isolated property valuable and residents did not want the building in their neighborhood. A committee was chosen to select a new location isolated enough to reduce the spread of disease and avoid creating a blight on property values. (5) In March 1894 serious consideration was given to a site on the grounds of the Insane Asylum of West Dubuque later known as ST. JOSEPH'S INSANE ASYLUM. (6) Residents of Asbury, however, threatened legal action if the proposed construction began. (7)

On May 23, 1894 the condition of the current pest house was such that the mayor received council approval to have it burned down. It was at this meeting that the suggestion was first made to establish a new house on a boat to be moored on an island. The mayor was empowered by the council to purchase a boat for this use. (8) After the fact, the question was raised that since the building and property were county property why the board of supervisors had not been contacted. (9) Mayor Olinger later denied that the council had ordered the pest house destroyed. He claimed an unknown person had caused the fire. (10)

A pest house was finally established on a flatboat. (11) Purchased soon after the May council meeting, the boat was described as "nearly new...large and roomy...and able to accommodate half a dozen patients." The boat was to be painted, refitted and anchored in the harbor until needed. Until that time, the council was planning its use as a fishing boat. (12)

In May 1899 consideration was given to housing people with contagious diseases on a boat in the harbor. This was apparently done because in January, 1901 another person with a diagnosed case of smallpox was quarantined in the "pest house" location in the ICE HARBOR. (13) Since the boat was surrounded by ice, consideration was made for chipping it free and bringing it to land. Since the person had been living at the WINDSOR HOTEL, both the "pest house" and hotel were quarantined with no one being allowed to leave. (14)

Dubuque Mayor Christopher H. BERG signed a lease on the A. L. Rhomberg property at the foot of East 17th Street, to construct a building to be used as a detention hospital. There were no homes nearby, and it was very accessible. A one and one-half story frame building was built with views of Wisconsin, Illinois, LAKE PEOSTA and the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. There was a ward for men and another for women, four private rooms and two reception areas. The building was equipped with water, heat, ventilation and a large veranda for convalescence. The new building opened officially in December 1901.

On January 3, 1902 there were eight patients in the hospital--five men and three women. Frank Burns, the first patient released from the new hospital, reported that Dr. Hancock, the city health physician, visited each patient daily. Burns also commented that the nurses did all they could to make the stay pleasant and that the food was good. (15) In the same month, the City of Dubuque reported that there had been 35 cases of smallpox since the last of September. (16)

In August, 1910, Dubuque had its first case of POLIO, a disease which surpassed all other communicable diseases because it mainly affected children. Local physicians and the Dubuque Board of Health called for state aid. Stringent sanitary measures were adopted and enforced. Citizens were urged to keep away from those inflicted, keep garbage covered, and to keep their homes clean. So many children were afflicted that theaters, Sunday Schools, and playgrounds were shut down, and children were not allowed to leave the city. (17)

Dubuque was in a state of quarantine issued by the Iowa State Board of Health. This was not lifted until August 3, 1918. Altogether, there were 68 cases of polio, from which nine deaths occurred. (18)

By 1920 the "pest house" at the foot of 17th Street had become rundown and had only a few patients. It was abandoned, and people with smallpox were sent to an isolation ward at SUNNYCREST SANITORIUM (now Sunnycrest Manor). (19)

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Source:

1. "Definition of Pesthouse," MedicineNet.com. Online: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=25542

2. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-23-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml

3. Oldt, Franklin T. and James P. Quigley. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association, 1890, p. 94

4. Kruse, Len, "'Pest House' Quarantined," Telegraph Herald, April 16, 1996, p. 5

5. "Property Owners Object," Dubuque Daily Herald, February 24, 1894, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18940224&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

6. "A Location Agreed On," Dubuque Daily Herald, March 3, 1894, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18940303&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

7. "Asbury Citizens Kick," Dubuque Daily Herald, March 4, 1894, p. 8. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18940304&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

8. "Will Make Another Effort," Dubuque Daily Herald, May 23, 1894, p. 4

9. "Municipal Molecules," Dubuque Daily Herald, May 25, 1894, p. 4

10. "Municipal Molecules, Dubuque Daily Herald, July 10, 1894, p. 4

11. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Online: http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-22-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml

12. "Have a Pest House," Dubuque Daily Herald, May 26, 1894, p. 4

13. Ibid.

14. Ibid.

15. "Treated Well," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, January 3, 1902, p. 5

16. "Smallpox in Iowa," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, January 3, 1902, p. 8

17. Kruse

18. Ibid.

19. Ibid.