Today in Johnson City History, Sunday, September 22, 2024

Smallpox, comings and goings, and "Get Involved!" with a quilt show

Friday, September 22, 1899: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, to the Chattanooga Daily Times  reported news with a dateline from Johnson City and a date from September 21. Readers learned that “The reports about the smallpox situation at Johnson City, as sent out from Bristol and Jonesboro, and published in the Knoxville and Bristol papers, as well as several of the nearby weeklies, have been greatly exaggerated, and has no other tendency than to injury Johnson City.

“The true status of the situation can be summed up as follows:

“On last Thursday Dr. J. A. Albright, of Nashville, was called to Johnson City to examine a case pronounced by Dr. W. J. Miller as smallpox, but County Physician Dr. J. S. Stuart diagnosed the case and said it was not smallpox. Dr. Albright, after examination of the case, agreed with Dr. Stuart, and pronounced the case impetigo. The case was that of Burford A. Mathes, son of City Recorder Wm. G. Mathes. However, as soon as the case was suspected as being smallpox Mr. Mathes put out a yellow flag and remained indoors until the expert examination fixed the disease.

“But there was still a suspect among the population living below the Carnegie furnace, which Dr. Albright pronounced to be smallpox. This case was found a mile and a half from the business portion of the city and half a mile beyond the corporate limits. Dr. J. S. Stuart immediately took the case in charge and placed it in the pest house, and took up four others, which were held in the detention camp. Since then two other cases have developed in the detention camp. A family near Jonesboro which had (several indecipherable words) to Johnson City went home and the pestilence soon broke out there. One child died there, but the other two that had been afflicted with the disease are getting well and there has been no exposures as Dr. Stuart has watched the camp closely.

“There is no excitement in Johnson City over the matter at all, and everybody comes and goes as they please. The schools are going on regularly every day and no one has been stopped from school on account of the report that smallpox existed.”

Smallpox is caused by a virus;  while most people recovered from it, many deaths resulted.  Smallpox can now be prevented by means of a vaccination.

Impetigo is a contagious skin infection.

Jonesboro was spelled that way in 1899.

A pest house was a building where people with contagious illnesses were isolated.

The Chattanooga Daily Times is now published online as the Chattanooga Times Free Press.  Johnson City did not publish a daily newspaper in 1899; however, The Comet was published weekly.

Monday, September 22, 1924: A century ago today, Johnson City Staff readers got a glimpse into the lives of several area residents as they read news about some recent happenings.  “Mr. and Mrs. George Newton Barnes announced the arrival of a daughter, Emily Crockett Barners (sic), September 20^th, at the Appalachian hospital (sic).”

“Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Dooley and Miss Juliette Hunter have returned from Knoxville where they spent the past week-end (sic). They made the trip by motor.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Hugh A. Bowers and son, Master Hugh, Jr., motored to Boones Creek Sunday.”

“Mr. J. P. Summers, Mr. George E. McCaskill, Mr. E. C. Lockett and Mr. Charles Broyles have returned from a motor trip to North Carolina points.”

“Mr. Eugene Hunter will leave Tuesday for Nashville where he will enter Vanderbilt University for the coming season.”

“Miss Lillian Rhea Hunter has returned from Lenoir City where she spent the past week-end (sic) as the guest of Mrs. H. C. Foster.”

“Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Hunter and Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Jackson of Bristol returned from a delightful motor trip to Mountain City. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson spent the past week-end (sic) as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Hunter and family on East Watauga Avenue.”

“Mr. Robert Mahoney returned Wednesday from Lenoir City where he spent the past week-end (sic) as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. John Eason and family.”

“Miss Mary Lockett, Miss Flo Summers, Mr. Dick Lacy, and Mr. Eugene Hunter motored to Bristol Monday afternoon. From there Miss Lockett goes to New York where she will attend school this winter at Columbia University.”

“Mr. Wood Nicklies (sic) of Bristol was a visitor in the city Sunday.”

“Captain B. F. Atkinson of the National Sanatorium, Commander Davis of the Lester Harris Post American Legion – Major R. Nelson Campbell, Mr. J. C. Ratliff, and Major Kregor, Major Townsend, Captain Alexander, Mr. Otis B. Taylor, and Mr. Marshall Bagwell of the National Sanitorium returned Sunday from St. Paul where they spent last week attending the National American Legion Convention.”

“Mrs. Frances Tappey of Charleston is a visitor in the city, the guest of friends and relatives. Mrs. Tappey has recently returned from an extended tour of Europe and the Holy Land.”

The Appalachian Hospital was a forerunner of Memorial Hospital, which was a forerunner to the Johnson City Medical Center.

Mountain City, Tennessee is about 44 miles northeast of Johnson City. It is located in Johnson County.

 Lenoir City, Tennessee is located about 133 miles southwest of Johnson City.

The National Sanatorium is now known as the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center.

 Lester Harris Road in Johnson City is named for Lester Harris, as mentioned above.

And now, let’s “Get Involved!” I recently spoke to Liz Banks, of Elizabethton. She, along with a committee from Hopwood Christian Church, are getting ready for their annual quilt show, which will take place this year on October 25 and 26. Watch this column for more news and details about the show, but in the meantime, mark your calendars to save the dates.

Truly, it takes several people to put together something like you’ve just read. I express profound appreciation to Heidi Dulebohn and Stephanie McClellan Houk for their thoughts and encouragement.

Grateful appreciation is expressed to Collin Brooks for his social media expertise. If you need assistance with your social medial needs, call him at 423-735-8755.

Will Riddle, owner of Riddle Technology Services, can help you with all your computer and computer-related needs. He’s the best! Call him at 423-480-4024.