HEALTH
SOME NEWS ITEMS PERTAINING TO HEALTH CONDITIONS ON BELL ISLAND
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.
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 was listed as the physician for Dominion Company, and Dr. Thompson was with the Scotia Company.
In 1906, Dr. H.P. Gouthro of Gambo began his practice on Bell Island with the Dominion Company.
In 1907, Dr. W.L. Carnochan went to Montreal for treatment of brain fever. He was the Scotia Company physician.
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. [This drug store would be managed by Louis Lawton, who later purchased it from Dr. Jones.]
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. Wm. 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. Carnochon was 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.
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 who was on a visit to Canada.
In the last week of May 1914, the Bell Island Co-Operative Store started business opposite the surgery and residence of Dr. Humbert A. Giovannetti. He was a physician (or dentist?) and druggist. His premises would be known as Flemings Drug Store in the 1950s.
"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, 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."
In August 1928, Dr. Giovannetti purchased the home of Constable John Morrissey on Town Square.
In March 1931, Dr. H.A. Giovannetti brought the first small car, a Baby Austin, to Bell Island.
In April 1931, Dr. Land began practicing on the Island.
In 1932, Dr. J.B. Lynch was appointed port doctor and district surgeon.
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 of 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. 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 July 1933, Mrs. H.A. Giovannetti and family left for Boston. The doctor remaining behind to sell his property, consisting of a drug store and residence on Town Square. [This property was destroyed in the January 14-15, 1937 fire that wiped out much of Town Square.]
In July 1935, Dr. H.F. Giovannetti, dentist, married Mary Louise O'Neill at St. John's.
In 1935, Dr. Hy Drover was practising on Bell Island, and Dr. Templeman had moved to a new office and surgery. Dr. Templeman's premises were destroyed by the fire that engulfed Town Square on January 14-15, 1937. 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 2020].
On September 3, 1936, Dr. Lynch and Nurse Agnes Bowdring attended the injured from a vehicle accident at the [Company] Surgery.
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.
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 was listed as the physician for Dominion Company, and Dr. Thompson was with the Scotia Company.
In 1906, Dr. H.P. Gouthro of Gambo began his practice on Bell Island with the Dominion Company.
In 1907, Dr. W.L. Carnochan went to Montreal for treatment of brain fever. He was the Scotia Company physician.
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. [This drug store would be managed by Louis Lawton, who later purchased it from Dr. Jones.]
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. Wm. 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. Carnochon was 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.
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 who was on a visit to Canada.
In the last week of May 1914, the Bell Island Co-Operative Store started business opposite the surgery and residence of Dr. Humbert A. Giovannetti. He was a physician (or dentist?) and druggist. His premises would be known as Flemings Drug Store in the 1950s.
"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, 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."
In August 1928, Dr. Giovannetti purchased the home of Constable John Morrissey on Town Square.
In March 1931, Dr. H.A. Giovannetti brought the first small car, a Baby Austin, to Bell Island.
In April 1931, Dr. Land began practicing on the Island.
In 1932, Dr. J.B. Lynch was appointed port doctor and district surgeon.
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 of 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. 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 July 1933, Mrs. H.A. Giovannetti and family left for Boston. The doctor remaining behind to sell his property, consisting of a drug store and residence on Town Square. [This property was destroyed in the January 14-15, 1937 fire that wiped out much of Town Square.]
In July 1935, Dr. H.F. Giovannetti, dentist, married Mary Louise O'Neill at St. John's.
In 1935, Dr. Hy Drover was practising on Bell Island, and Dr. Templeman had moved to a new office and surgery. Dr. Templeman's premises were destroyed by the fire that engulfed Town Square on January 14-15, 1937. 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 2020].
On September 3, 1936, Dr. Lynch and Nurse Agnes Bowdring attended the injured from a vehicle accident at the [Company] Surgery.
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.
TIMELINE OF EFFORTS TO PROCURE A HOSPITAL FOR BELL ISLAND
"The first mention of the need for a hospital on the Island" occurred after an accident that happened in the Fall of 1901. Eli Brown, 65, was a mason at the construction of the Court House. While walking along the ore track, he was struck from behind by a loaded ore car and his right leg was broken in two places. He was conveyed to Portugal Cove and thence by wagon to the General Hospital in St. John's. The incident caused much unfavourable comment as the patient did not reach the hospital until 12 hours after the accident. The newspaper account of the incident spoke of the "urgent necessity of a hospital on the Island, where accidents of a severe nature could be attended to without having patients sent all the distance to St. John's over a long stretch of land and water."
From the Daily News, Fall 1937: "Rumours were again prevalent that a hospital would be built on the Island but it took the form then of 'a cottage hospital.'"
From the Daily News, Fall 1937: "Rumours were again prevalent that a hospital would be built on the Island but it took the form then of 'a cottage hospital.'"