PEST HOUSE

Pest House. Early method of quarantining people with communicable diseases.

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, to stop all boats arriving from the south at a small building located south of Dirty Hollow (now the area of South Locust, Southern Avenue and Railroad Avenue). City police and the marshal aided the city health officer. Money was authorized to renovate the small building 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 found was found 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.

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.

Around 1890, an individual diagnosed with smallpox was taken to the "pest house." Once he recovered, the "pest house" was finally destroyed by fire. (1) Other sites were proposed, but opposition always developed. In May 1899 consideration was made house people with contagious diseases on a boat in the harbor south of town. 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. (2) Since the boat was surrounded by ice, consideration was made for chipping it free and bringing it to land. Since the person was living at the WINDSOR HOTEL, both the "pest house" and hotel quarantined with no one being allowed to leave. (3)

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. There were good 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.

In August, 1910, Dubuque had its first case of POLIO, a disease which surpassed all other communicable diseases because it mostly 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.

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.

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).

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Source:

1. "Smallpox Here," Dubuque Daily Telegraph, January 4, 1901, p. 4