HISTORY
HEALTH
by Gail Hussey-Weir
created April 2020 / Updated April 28, 2022
by Gail Hussey-Weir
created April 2020 / Updated April 28, 2022
SOME NEWS ITEMS PERTAINING TO HEALTH CONDITIONS
ON BELL ISLAND DURING THE MINING YEARS
ON BELL ISLAND DURING THE MINING YEARS
In 1898, Dr. Robert Jardine Freebairn was medical officer with the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Company at Wabana. He was likely Bell Island's first physician. (Note: In the 1898 Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland, Belle Isle, as Bell Island was then known, was not included in the list of "Medical Practitioners in Newfoundland.")
In 1900, Dr. Freebairn was medical officer with the Dominion Company, and Dr. Thompson was with the Scotia Company.
In the 1904 McAlpine's Directory for Bell Island, Dr. Cook [Cock?] was listed as the physician for Dominion Company, and Dr. Thompson was with the Scotia Company.
In the 1904, 1905 and 1906 Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland, in the list of "Medical Practitioners in Newfoundland," the names listed for Bell Isle are "Geo. H. Thompson and Jas. Lyall Cock."
In 1906, Dr. H.P. Gouthro of Gambo began his practice on Bell Island with the Dominion Company.
In 1907, Dr. W.L. Carnochan was the Scotia Company physician. In the 1907 Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland, in the list of "Medical Practitioners in Newfoundland," the names listed for Belle Isle are W.L. Carnochan and H.P. Gouthro.
Also in 1907, Dr. William Edward Jones of Avondale was erecting an up-to-date drug store on the Green on property he had purchased from W.K. Murphy. [The name of this drug store was Wabana Drug Store and would be managed by Louis Lawton, who later purchased it from Dr. Jones. It is not clear if Dr. Jones ever actually practiced medicine on Bell Island.]
In April 1908, there was an epidemic of measles on Bell Island and many houses were quarantined.
In the 1910 Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland, in the list of "Medical Practitioners in Newfoundland," the names listed for Belle Isle are W.L. Carnochan and H.P. Gouthro. When Dr. Gouthro was on vacation in the Fall of 1910, he was relieved by Dr. Lynch of Sydney.
In the Fall of 1912, "Government Health Officer, Dr. Brehm, was on Bell Island investigating the sanitary conditions. William Parmiter was ill of Typhoid Fever at that time and was attended by Dr. Cron of Harbour Grace." (Typhoid Fever is a serious disease spread by contaminated food and water.)
In the 1913 Directory, Dr. William L. Carnochan was listed as the Scotia Company physician, Dr. Henry P. Gouthro was the Dominion Company physician, and Priscilla Rees was "caretaker of surgery."
In 1913, Bell Island had two drug stores: The Bell Island Drug Store and Wabana Drug Store. The Bell Island Drug Store was owned by Dr. H.A. Giovannetti, who took up medical practice on Town Square at the corner of St. Pat's Lane in about 1913. [By this time, Louis Lawton was in partnership with Dr. Jones in ownership of the Wabana Drug Store, located on The Green.]
In August 1913, Dr. J.B. Lynch had newly taken up residence on Bell Island.
In February 1914, a man who had been struck by an ore car in No. 2 Slope was attended by Dr. Cron and Nurse Shepherd. Dr. Cron was then replacing Dr. Carnochan, the Scotia Company physician, who was on a visit to Canada.
There was an epidemic of Smallpox on Bell Island in February 1918 when 10 houses were quarantined. It became necessary to close the schools for a time to prevent the spread of the disease.
In 1918: "A terrible epidemic of La Grippe, or Spanish Influenza (popularly known as "the Flu") struck the world in the last year of the Great War, numbering its victims by the hundreds of thousands. The first cases were reported in St. John's on October 4, 1918. By the 14th, all schools, theatres and halls were closed, and the Seamen's Institute on Water Street was taken over as a hospital. Eight deaths occurred in the city in 24 hours on October 24th. The Flu was then reaching alarming proportions and all churches were closed on October 29th." Meanwhile, on Bell Island: "Dr. J.B. Lynch reported 20 cases of Flu and two deaths in one week. The three doctors on the Island at the time, Drs. Carnochan, Giovannetti and Lynch, were working day and night to cope with the epidemic. Theresa Josephine Kent, eldest daughter of E.J. and Mrs. Kent, died on October 23rd at the age of 12."
"The Daily News published a letter on November 2, 1918, signed 'Anxious Parent' re sanitary conditions on the Island. It reported that five persons had died that week from the Flu and that hundreds were sick. The letter suggested that a Public Health Inspector from St. John's should spend a month on Bell Island looking into conditions."
While the Daily News article said the first cases were reported in St. John's in October 1918, death records show that "La Grippe" was given as the cause of death of Robert Normore of Bell Island on May 27, 1918, John Thomas Carew on June 12th, George Basha, age 6, on July 12th, and Margaret Bowdren on September 4th. Death records for 1918 show that at least 17 people died of Influenza on Bell Island that year.
"On May 27, 1919, a meeting was held by the Fire Brigade under President J.A. Hughes to launch a program for the physical development of children including plans for a playground, swimming pool and gymnasium. Those interested in the Child Welfare Project were A. MacDonald, C.B. Archibald, Very Rev. J.J. McGrath, Rev. J. Stead, Rev. W. Butler, Adjt. Sainsbury [Salvation Army], A.R. Proudfoot and F.F. Jardine. The three doctors, Lynch, Carnochan and Giovanetti, offered their services to visit the schools periodically and examine the children as to eyes, teeth and general health."
"Bell Island's first case of Typhoid Fever in 15 years was reported in the Spring of 1930."
In April 1931, Dr. Land began practicing on the Island.
In 1932, Dr. J.B. Lynch was appointed Port Doctor and District Surgeon.
"There was a severe epidemic of Dysentery among small children in the Summer of 1932. 51 deaths occurred on Bell Island among children under one year old between August and October. Among adults, the following were called by death: Henry Hibbs, 56; Mrs. Elizabeth O'Toole, 90; Joseph King, 25."
In the winter of 1933, "the hotel of Edward Parsons on the Green was quarantined for 21 days as Madge Greenland, teacher, had contracted Scarlet Fever. There was an epidemic of that disease locally, the first patient being Mrs. G.H. Haines."
In March 1933, "the S.P.A. (Society for the Protection of Animals) agent, Michael J. Hawco, was appointed Health Inspector and served without remuneration. The position had been vacant since the retirement of Head Constable J.B. Cox." The world was in the midst of the Great Depression at this time and Bell Island was no exception. The slowdown in mining operations was so severe, DOSCO was leasing land to employees to grow vegetables to supplement lost income. 85 families were receiving relief. In early May of 1933, "the Government introduced a policy of making all recipients of public relief give work in return for dole (Welfare payments). Michael Hawco, the local Health Officer, was instructed to put the men to work 'for the benefit of the community.' Their first assignment was the clean-up of The Green, where many miners' shacks were located, these having been vacated at the beginning of the Depression when all the commuting miners were laid off due to lack of iron ore orders. A total of 475 man-days or 3,680 man-hours were worked in return for past relief and for seed potatoes. The Newfoundland Government paid for the labour, while the Company contributed horses for hauling away rubbish, paint for the hydrants, lime for the fences, and implements such as shovels and rakes. It was the first thorough cleaning-up the section had received and an amazing transformation took place."
In May 1933, "a case of Diphtheria was discovered at the Staff House, which was placed under quarantine. The patient was Veronica Farrell."
In July 1933, Mrs. H.A. Giovannetti and family left for Boston. Dr. Giovannetti remained behind to sell his property, consisting of a drug store and residence on Town Square. Meanwhile, Dr. Walter Templeman graduated from Dalhousie University in the spring of 1934. He purchased Dr. Giovannetti's premises and set up private practice on Bell Island in 1934.
In 1934, Dr. H.F. Giovannetti, Dentist, who was the nephew of Dr. H.A. Giovannetti, moved his dental practice to Bell Island and operated out of the former premises of his uncle on Town Square. He was likely Bell Island's first and, at the time, only dentist. He left Bell Island in 1963.
In 1935, Dr. Hy Drover was also practising on Bell Island.
In an outbreak of Influenza in February 1935, three Bell Island nurses, Bown, Bowdring and Skanes, were called to St. John's to assist the nursing staff of the General Hospital during that epidemic. Two Bell Island doctors were down with the Flu at the time.
On September 3, 1936, Dr. Lynch and Nurse Agnes Bowdring attended the injured from a vehicle accident at the [Company] Surgery.
On January 14-15, 1937, Dr. Templeman's drug store and residence were destroyed by the fire that engulfed Town Square. In August 1937, his new house and surgery were under construction on the north side of Bennett Street [half way between the East Track and Town Square. The house is still standing in 2021].
"An epidemic of Diphtheria broke out in the Fall of 1937. Drs. Lynch and Templeman were kept busy giving inoculations. The theatres were closed because of the outbreak (and were still closed at Christmas time). Drs. J.B. St. Knight and A. Bishop of the Department of Health visited the Island in connection with it. At least one death occurred among children because of the disease, the victim being Margaret Andrews, age 8."
March of 1938 "went out like a raging lion. A big snowstorm was experienced from Saturday morning to Monday afternoon, one of the worst on record for length and severity. Five babies were born during the storm, and doctors, nurses and midwives were kept busy ploughing through the drifts."
On April 27, 1938, 2 men were killed by a gas explosion in No. 6 Mine and others were badly injured. Dr. Templeman and Nurse Hazel Smith accompanied the injured on the trip to the General Hospital in St. John's.
"A severe epidemic of Flu was experienced in February 1939 and 2,000 cases were reported locally. Working time in the mines was seriously affected as 800 miners were down with the Flu at one time." There was no follow-up information on whether or not there were any deaths recorded due to this outbreak.
Also in February 1939, "Dr. James McGrath (later Minister of Health) and Dr. J. Peters set up a clinic in the Masonic Hall to inoculate residents against Diphtheria and Typhoid, and were conducting X-rays for Tuberculosis."
Dr. J.B. Lynch died in January 1942 at age 65.
Dr. Templeman served in the Royal Canadian Medical Corps during World War II, following which, he returned to Bell Island to take up the position of Chief Medical Officer for the DOSCO Wabana Mines.
With a total of 232 cases reported for Newfoundland, the 1953 outbreak of Poliomyelitis had the highest number since accurate recording of infectious diseases was instituted by the Department of Health. [I do not have the numbers for Bell Island, but I know of at least two children who were affected by the disease at that time.] Schools did not open until September 21st that year in an effort to contain the spread of the disease. Children of school age were also barred from churches and cinemas for the same period. Source: A.O.D. McDermott, "Poliomyelitis in the Province of Newfoundland, 1953, Canadian Journal of Public Health, V. 45, No. 7, July 1954, pp. 284-288.
In 1957, Dr. Templeman took over the Company Surgery for private practice.
In 1959, schools were closed throughout September due to another Polio epidemic. Swimming pools were closed that summer, but cinemas and other public gathering places remained open. Sources: Daily News, Sept. 2, 1960, p.2.
In May 1961, "A mass chest clinic opened at the Miners' Union Hall. Local medical authorities pointed out there has been a recurrence of Tuberculosis during the past few months. All residents were urged to take advantage of the free service." Meanwhile, "A monthly Red Cross Toxoiding Clinic [ie. vaccines against communicable diseases] for pre-school age children was held at Dr. Templeman's surgery the first Wednesday of each month."
The Dr. Walter Templeman Hospital (later Health Centre) was opened on Bell Island in 1965. The photo below of the Hospital in 1984 is courtesy of Dr. Robert Smith.
In 1900, Dr. Freebairn was medical officer with the Dominion Company, and Dr. Thompson was with the Scotia Company.
In the 1904 McAlpine's Directory for Bell Island, Dr. Cook [Cock?] was listed as the physician for Dominion Company, and Dr. Thompson was with the Scotia Company.
In the 1904, 1905 and 1906 Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland, in the list of "Medical Practitioners in Newfoundland," the names listed for Bell Isle are "Geo. H. Thompson and Jas. Lyall Cock."
In 1906, Dr. H.P. Gouthro of Gambo began his practice on Bell Island with the Dominion Company.
In 1907, Dr. W.L. Carnochan was the Scotia Company physician. In the 1907 Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland, in the list of "Medical Practitioners in Newfoundland," the names listed for Belle Isle are W.L. Carnochan and H.P. Gouthro.
Also in 1907, Dr. William Edward Jones of Avondale was erecting an up-to-date drug store on the Green on property he had purchased from W.K. Murphy. [The name of this drug store was Wabana Drug Store and would be managed by Louis Lawton, who later purchased it from Dr. Jones. It is not clear if Dr. Jones ever actually practiced medicine on Bell Island.]
In April 1908, there was an epidemic of measles on Bell Island and many houses were quarantined.
In the 1910 Year Book and Almanac of Newfoundland, in the list of "Medical Practitioners in Newfoundland," the names listed for Belle Isle are W.L. Carnochan and H.P. Gouthro. When Dr. Gouthro was on vacation in the Fall of 1910, he was relieved by Dr. Lynch of Sydney.
In the Fall of 1912, "Government Health Officer, Dr. Brehm, was on Bell Island investigating the sanitary conditions. William Parmiter was ill of Typhoid Fever at that time and was attended by Dr. Cron of Harbour Grace." (Typhoid Fever is a serious disease spread by contaminated food and water.)
In the 1913 Directory, Dr. William L. Carnochan was listed as the Scotia Company physician, Dr. Henry P. Gouthro was the Dominion Company physician, and Priscilla Rees was "caretaker of surgery."
In 1913, Bell Island had two drug stores: The Bell Island Drug Store and Wabana Drug Store. The Bell Island Drug Store was owned by Dr. H.A. Giovannetti, who took up medical practice on Town Square at the corner of St. Pat's Lane in about 1913. [By this time, Louis Lawton was in partnership with Dr. Jones in ownership of the Wabana Drug Store, located on The Green.]
In August 1913, Dr. J.B. Lynch had newly taken up residence on Bell Island.
In February 1914, a man who had been struck by an ore car in No. 2 Slope was attended by Dr. Cron and Nurse Shepherd. Dr. Cron was then replacing Dr. Carnochan, the Scotia Company physician, who was on a visit to Canada.
There was an epidemic of Smallpox on Bell Island in February 1918 when 10 houses were quarantined. It became necessary to close the schools for a time to prevent the spread of the disease.
In 1918: "A terrible epidemic of La Grippe, or Spanish Influenza (popularly known as "the Flu") struck the world in the last year of the Great War, numbering its victims by the hundreds of thousands. The first cases were reported in St. John's on October 4, 1918. By the 14th, all schools, theatres and halls were closed, and the Seamen's Institute on Water Street was taken over as a hospital. Eight deaths occurred in the city in 24 hours on October 24th. The Flu was then reaching alarming proportions and all churches were closed on October 29th." Meanwhile, on Bell Island: "Dr. J.B. Lynch reported 20 cases of Flu and two deaths in one week. The three doctors on the Island at the time, Drs. Carnochan, Giovannetti and Lynch, were working day and night to cope with the epidemic. Theresa Josephine Kent, eldest daughter of E.J. and Mrs. Kent, died on October 23rd at the age of 12."
"The Daily News published a letter on November 2, 1918, signed 'Anxious Parent' re sanitary conditions on the Island. It reported that five persons had died that week from the Flu and that hundreds were sick. The letter suggested that a Public Health Inspector from St. John's should spend a month on Bell Island looking into conditions."
While the Daily News article said the first cases were reported in St. John's in October 1918, death records show that "La Grippe" was given as the cause of death of Robert Normore of Bell Island on May 27, 1918, John Thomas Carew on June 12th, George Basha, age 6, on July 12th, and Margaret Bowdren on September 4th. Death records for 1918 show that at least 17 people died of Influenza on Bell Island that year.
"On May 27, 1919, a meeting was held by the Fire Brigade under President J.A. Hughes to launch a program for the physical development of children including plans for a playground, swimming pool and gymnasium. Those interested in the Child Welfare Project were A. MacDonald, C.B. Archibald, Very Rev. J.J. McGrath, Rev. J. Stead, Rev. W. Butler, Adjt. Sainsbury [Salvation Army], A.R. Proudfoot and F.F. Jardine. The three doctors, Lynch, Carnochan and Giovanetti, offered their services to visit the schools periodically and examine the children as to eyes, teeth and general health."
"Bell Island's first case of Typhoid Fever in 15 years was reported in the Spring of 1930."
In April 1931, Dr. Land began practicing on the Island.
In 1932, Dr. J.B. Lynch was appointed Port Doctor and District Surgeon.
"There was a severe epidemic of Dysentery among small children in the Summer of 1932. 51 deaths occurred on Bell Island among children under one year old between August and October. Among adults, the following were called by death: Henry Hibbs, 56; Mrs. Elizabeth O'Toole, 90; Joseph King, 25."
In the winter of 1933, "the hotel of Edward Parsons on the Green was quarantined for 21 days as Madge Greenland, teacher, had contracted Scarlet Fever. There was an epidemic of that disease locally, the first patient being Mrs. G.H. Haines."
In March 1933, "the S.P.A. (Society for the Protection of Animals) agent, Michael J. Hawco, was appointed Health Inspector and served without remuneration. The position had been vacant since the retirement of Head Constable J.B. Cox." The world was in the midst of the Great Depression at this time and Bell Island was no exception. The slowdown in mining operations was so severe, DOSCO was leasing land to employees to grow vegetables to supplement lost income. 85 families were receiving relief. In early May of 1933, "the Government introduced a policy of making all recipients of public relief give work in return for dole (Welfare payments). Michael Hawco, the local Health Officer, was instructed to put the men to work 'for the benefit of the community.' Their first assignment was the clean-up of The Green, where many miners' shacks were located, these having been vacated at the beginning of the Depression when all the commuting miners were laid off due to lack of iron ore orders. A total of 475 man-days or 3,680 man-hours were worked in return for past relief and for seed potatoes. The Newfoundland Government paid for the labour, while the Company contributed horses for hauling away rubbish, paint for the hydrants, lime for the fences, and implements such as shovels and rakes. It was the first thorough cleaning-up the section had received and an amazing transformation took place."
In May 1933, "a case of Diphtheria was discovered at the Staff House, which was placed under quarantine. The patient was Veronica Farrell."
In July 1933, Mrs. H.A. Giovannetti and family left for Boston. Dr. Giovannetti remained behind to sell his property, consisting of a drug store and residence on Town Square. Meanwhile, Dr. Walter Templeman graduated from Dalhousie University in the spring of 1934. He purchased Dr. Giovannetti's premises and set up private practice on Bell Island in 1934.
In 1934, Dr. H.F. Giovannetti, Dentist, who was the nephew of Dr. H.A. Giovannetti, moved his dental practice to Bell Island and operated out of the former premises of his uncle on Town Square. He was likely Bell Island's first and, at the time, only dentist. He left Bell Island in 1963.
In 1935, Dr. Hy Drover was also practising on Bell Island.
In an outbreak of Influenza in February 1935, three Bell Island nurses, Bown, Bowdring and Skanes, were called to St. John's to assist the nursing staff of the General Hospital during that epidemic. Two Bell Island doctors were down with the Flu at the time.
On September 3, 1936, Dr. Lynch and Nurse Agnes Bowdring attended the injured from a vehicle accident at the [Company] Surgery.
On January 14-15, 1937, Dr. Templeman's drug store and residence were destroyed by the fire that engulfed Town Square. In August 1937, his new house and surgery were under construction on the north side of Bennett Street [half way between the East Track and Town Square. The house is still standing in 2021].
"An epidemic of Diphtheria broke out in the Fall of 1937. Drs. Lynch and Templeman were kept busy giving inoculations. The theatres were closed because of the outbreak (and were still closed at Christmas time). Drs. J.B. St. Knight and A. Bishop of the Department of Health visited the Island in connection with it. At least one death occurred among children because of the disease, the victim being Margaret Andrews, age 8."
March of 1938 "went out like a raging lion. A big snowstorm was experienced from Saturday morning to Monday afternoon, one of the worst on record for length and severity. Five babies were born during the storm, and doctors, nurses and midwives were kept busy ploughing through the drifts."
On April 27, 1938, 2 men were killed by a gas explosion in No. 6 Mine and others were badly injured. Dr. Templeman and Nurse Hazel Smith accompanied the injured on the trip to the General Hospital in St. John's.
"A severe epidemic of Flu was experienced in February 1939 and 2,000 cases were reported locally. Working time in the mines was seriously affected as 800 miners were down with the Flu at one time." There was no follow-up information on whether or not there were any deaths recorded due to this outbreak.
Also in February 1939, "Dr. James McGrath (later Minister of Health) and Dr. J. Peters set up a clinic in the Masonic Hall to inoculate residents against Diphtheria and Typhoid, and were conducting X-rays for Tuberculosis."
Dr. J.B. Lynch died in January 1942 at age 65.
Dr. Templeman served in the Royal Canadian Medical Corps during World War II, following which, he returned to Bell Island to take up the position of Chief Medical Officer for the DOSCO Wabana Mines.
With a total of 232 cases reported for Newfoundland, the 1953 outbreak of Poliomyelitis had the highest number since accurate recording of infectious diseases was instituted by the Department of Health. [I do not have the numbers for Bell Island, but I know of at least two children who were affected by the disease at that time.] Schools did not open until September 21st that year in an effort to contain the spread of the disease. Children of school age were also barred from churches and cinemas for the same period. Source: A.O.D. McDermott, "Poliomyelitis in the Province of Newfoundland, 1953, Canadian Journal of Public Health, V. 45, No. 7, July 1954, pp. 284-288.
In 1957, Dr. Templeman took over the Company Surgery for private practice.
In 1959, schools were closed throughout September due to another Polio epidemic. Swimming pools were closed that summer, but cinemas and other public gathering places remained open. Sources: Daily News, Sept. 2, 1960, p.2.
In May 1961, "A mass chest clinic opened at the Miners' Union Hall. Local medical authorities pointed out there has been a recurrence of Tuberculosis during the past few months. All residents were urged to take advantage of the free service." Meanwhile, "A monthly Red Cross Toxoiding Clinic [ie. vaccines against communicable diseases] for pre-school age children was held at Dr. Templeman's surgery the first Wednesday of each month."
The Dr. Walter Templeman Hospital (later Health Centre) was opened on Bell Island in 1965. The photo below of the Hospital in 1984 is courtesy of Dr. Robert Smith.
