The 1902 smallpox outbreak in Knightstown resulted in sealing off the town from the outside world. This house was chosen as the waymark site for that quarantine news story because it became known as "The Pest House", a common name for the place where smallpox victims were relocated to in quarantines. It was purchased by the town of Knightstown and used as a town hospital in the summer of 1902 to treat the victims of the epidemic.
The following people died from the epidemic:
*Brosius, Rosie age 36 years, died on 2 Jul 1902
*Davis, John, age 24 years, died on 3 Jul 1902
*Dovey, Hallie, Mrs. Burt, age 23 years, died on 6 Jul 1902
*Florea, Martha, Mrs. Josiah, age 75 years, died on 14 Jul 1902.
*Lamb, Rebecca age 26 years, died on 3 Aug 1902
*Risley, Nathan F., age 68 years, died on 16 Jul 1902
*Risley, White, age 28 years, died on 7 Jul 1902
*Roberts, Homer S., age 20 years, died on 3 Jul 1902
*Roberts, Edna age 30, died on 30 Jul 1902
*Steele, Mack, age 45 years, died on 17 Jul 1902
*Swain, Jesse A., age 23, died on 9 Jun 1902. Suspected to be the 1st victim.
*White, Henry, age 28 years, died on 6 Jul 1902
*Wilson, Thomas, age 43 years, died on 1 Jul 1902
The events are described on the Henry County Genealogical Services web site...
"In the summer of 1902, Knightstown, IN had an outbreak of smallpox. It was considered severe enough by the board of health, and the county commissioners, that the entire town and vicinity was quarantined. No one was allowed to enter or the leave the town for any reason. Despite the drastic measures, the disease continued to spread. Where twenty-six cases had been reported in June, fourteen more were added to the toll the first week in July. People panicked as they saw the silent killer stalk their friends and neighbors. Everyone wondered, "Who will be next?" By mid-July the Knightstown toll had shot to 81 cases. During the epidemic Knightstown was like a city of the dead. All business in Knightstown was paralyzed, weeds, corn and other vegetation grew up all over town, hitching racks in the town square were overgrown with weeds as tall as six feet. Hardly any business was transacted for nearly two and one-half months. "
One news article that covered the event was the New Castle Democrat, July 18th 1902. There were many others as well that can be viewed at (
visit link) , the Pest House Facebook page. The New Castle Democrat article can be found at (
visit link) . The article read as follows:
"At a special meeting of the county commissioners with Secretary Mendenhall of the board of health, last Saturday, decisive action was taken in reference to the Knightstown smallpox. The several members of the county council were called by telephone and all said that appropriations would be made to cover any expense necessary to protect the health of the county. With this assurance the board placed quarantine on Knightstown and vicinity.
Commissioner Ed Hall was delegated to look after it and within twenty-four hours had ten guards on the roads leading from Knightstown. These are in charge of Kirsey Kirk who will patrol the guard line. No person in the prescribed limit, which extends outside the corporate lines of Knightstown, will be allowed to pass the guards under any protect until the smallpox epidemic at Knightstown is over. Rush couny has the same number of men south of the town so that more than twenty men are on duty day and night. The action of the board was right and proper. If anything, it is a benefit to Knightstown as it keeps those persons who might leave if there were no restrictions. Nobody goes into town from the country so that it works no hardship in that respect. The entire county will approve the measure, the only criticism being that it was not done sooner. The quarantine is costing the county fifty dollars a day but this is no time to quibble over a few dollars. The epidemic must be checked and stamped out at any cost."