Marblehead is No Stranger to Being Hit with a Contagious Disease like Covid-19

Marblehead is no stranger to being hit with a contagious disease.  Below is a brief historical summary I gathered about how the town has dealt with smallpox.  You would think after 387 years,  we might have a plan in place as to how to best deal with contagious diseases in the United States.  Like it or not, history will tell us, if it is not small-pox it will be some other type of disease.  This is why we need strong disciplined well prepared Federal and State Governments.  The government has spent billions of dollars on the military, but next to nothing on basic precautionary medical supplies. 

1629 - Marblehead settled

1633 - many settlers in Marblehead died of smallpox - number unknown

1730 - smallpox was raging in Boston.  At a Marblehead Town Meeting, it was voted to build a fence across the road near the entrance of the town (now called Atlantic Avenue). A gate, which was kept locked, and. Guard of four men were stationed, with instructions to “restrain all strangers from Boston entering Marblehead.  The guard was kept on day and night for over two months, being relieved every twenty-four hours.  Every possible precaution was taken to prevent the disease from making its appearance.  But all in vain.  In October, a young woman named Hannah Waters was taken sick in its most contagious form.  Spread from house to house.  Many people in their terror fled from the town.  Businesses are suspended and quarantined was declared against Marblehead by all neighboring towns.  Continued through 1731.  Not declared free from the disease until nearly a year later.  Number of deaths not recorded

1752 Small-pox again broke out

1764 - Feb small-pox again broke out in Boston.  Broke out in Marblehead in May.  A small-pox hospital was erected in the North Westerly section

1773 - small-pox broke out.  The selectmen order all houses where the disease had appeared to be closed and guarded, and all dogs in town to be killed immediately.  August a town meeting was held petitioning the town to build a hospital on Cat Island for the treatment of small-pox patients by inoculation.  The town voted not to build the hospital but gave the desired permission to the petitioners to undertake it as a private enterprise.  The people of Marblehead began to get worried the permission was rescinded.  Indignant at the injustice of this action, the proprietors continued their work in spite of all the opposition, and in a short time the hospital, a large two-story building was completed.  Dr. Hall Jackson, an eminent physician of Portsmouth, NH attained a distinguished reputation for his success in creating the small-pox was appointed superintendent.  October 16h began his work.  Hundreds were successfully treated, while several others died.  Opposition grew.  January 26, 1774, a party of men disguised and burnt the hospital down

1789 - Many of the inhabitants were reduced to a state of extreme wretchedness.  There were four hundred and fifty-nine widows and eight hundred and sixty -five orphan children in the town., nearly all of whom were dependent in some degree upon tax-paying inhabitants for support.  Winter of 1790 advanced so did the sufferings.  Several perished from hunger and exposure.  Houses, barns, and fences were falling to pieces, and without means to repair.

1800 - small-pox breaks out.  Six hundred inhabitants (1/12 of the population) were destitute.  Sixty-four victims died of which only twenty were adults.

During this time we hope everyone is staying safe and doing everything possible to remain healthy. We will stay strong and come out of this on the other side.