Marcus Hook Quarantine Station and come to Twelve Night costume party!!!

The Quarantine Station in Marcus Hook looking toward Chester. The station consisted of almost 20 acres and was just south of Blue  Ball Ave. if it extended to the Delaware River.

 

NOTE: Many of my readers are aware of the Lazaretto Quarantine Station in Tinicum which still stands . It operated from 1801 to c.1895. The station then moved to Marcus Hook and was there till the late 1940's when it was moved further down stream and the property was sold to Sun Oil. Below is a article from 120 years ago about what life was like at the station. 

 

Marcus Hook Quarantine Station

 

     Marcus Hook is the furthest spot in Pennsylvania on the Delaware River.  It is an ideal place for the purposes.  Surrounded by all works, it is practically cut off from the somewhat distant town.  On a high bank, it overlooks the river for ten miles downstream.  Every vessel coming from abroad is boarded, as is every one coming from Florida or the Gulf ports.  Should contagion break out further north, vessels from the inflicted parts would be vigilantly examined.  When two or three years ago, there was yellow fever at Hampton, Va., a double service was maintained.  Lumber barges were in the habit of coming up the river at night, and not one of them was missed by the officers at Marcus Hook.

            There is no opportunity for contagion to pass, for there is a telegraphic station on the long pier, at the end of which the quarantine tug is continually lying, except when in the stream on business.  Vessels entering the Breakwater are reported.  Later they are reported when passing Reedy Island.  When a vessel coming under quarantine rules is sighted, four blasts of the whistle call the quarantine physicians from their houses and the tug meets the vessel at some distance below Hook, makes fast to her while the doctors are doing their duty.

            There is a reason for this.  Under the law a vessel cannot pass until released by the quarantine authorities.  She could be made to anchor.  But it has been the study of the Station to facilitate the business of the port in every possible way, therefore, every effort to avoid the delay of the vessel is made.  If there is contagion there must be detention, but when the vessel is free from infection she slows down only, the doctors examine the papers and the crew and the steerage passengers take the report of the ship’s surgeon if one is carried, grant practice, cast off their lines and go ashore.  The delay is very slight.  All regular liners come up the river with the necessary information made out on a quarantine blank, thus facilitating the examination.

            It used to be the custom for vessels to anchor at night, but in these times it is but necessary for the agents of a vessel to telephone to the Station when haste is desirable and to waste some hours would be expensive, and the physicians hold themselves in readiness to board at any hour of the day or night.  This is not required by law. It is done merely to advance the interests of the port.  Fruit steamers with a perishable cargo are always boarded on arrival, no matter what the hour.  It is no easy task to climb the sides of monster ocean steamships at the dead of night in winter with the ice running and the rounds of the swinging ladder coated with frozen spray.  It is no easy task in the daylight, for that matter.

It has been said that the station is ideal.  So it is.  There is a large administration building where there is an office.  There is also a laboratory of bacteriology on this same floor.  Above are rooms ready for instant use for officers of ships detained.  There are barracks for sailors and immigrants, where several hundred persons can be accommodated.  There is a dining room for the suspects.  At the corner of the grounds is a frame building for the treatment of contagion.  There is also a crematory for the destruction of excrement or bedding not worth fumigating.  There are facilities for fumigation and for bathing while ships can be fumigated while lying at anchor.

            The Quarantine Physician, Dr. Heller, is the executive officer of the Station with an office in Philadelphia. He is in close communication with the Station, where two deputies, Dr. ward and Dr. Kennedy, reside in houses built upon the grounds.  It is their duty to board all vessels requiring examination.  There is a State Quarantine Board which conducts the affairs of the Station, composed of the Quarantine Physician, the Health Officer, the secretary of the State Board of Health, a physician appointed by the Governor, a member appointed by the Mayor of Philadelphia, a member appointed by the president of the Maritime Exchange and one named by the College of Physicians and Surgeons.  Both the medical and the business interests are thus brought into complete harmony.

            It is impossible in a brief article to go into details, but an idea of what the Station accomplishes can be had from the figures given in the Annual Report for the year ending December 31 last:

                        INSPECTION DEPARTMENT

            Incoming vessels inspected and passed………………...1417

            Out-bound vessels inspected and passed………………….22

            Vessels spoken and passed………………………………...95

                                                                                                      1534

 

            Passengers on incoming vessels spoken and passed…………..38996

            Passengers on out-bound vessels spoken and passed…………….....9

            Officers & men of incoming vessels inspected and passed…....36190

            Officers & men of out-going vessels inspected and passed………. 80

            Officers & men on vessels spoken and passed…………………..2500

 

                        DETENTION DEPARTMENT

            Vessels detained for observation……………………………………21

            Vessels detained for disinfection……………………………………. 6

            Passengers detained for observation……………………………….712

            Officers & men detained for observation…………………………1160

            Officers & men detained for disinfection…………………………..137

 

                        DISINFECTING DEPARTMENT

            Vessels disinfected…………………………………………………….6

            Pieces of baggage disinfected and labeled………………………….200

           

 

 

Are you interested in the history of our area?

 

Join us on Jan. 26th from 1 to 4 at the 1696 Thomas Massey House, Lawrence Rd. Broomall

 

There will be artifacts on display as well as photographs and other materials related to our local history

Local historians will be available to share the history of Marple Township and the surrounding area.

Refreshments will be served