Orange, New Jersey, had barely finished building its new pesthouse when an angry crowd tried to burn it down.
The small hospital, meant to isolate contagious patients, had been controversial from the start. Work on the building began in a vacant lot near Crane Street, Essex Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, and Mechanic Street, but officials immediately clashed over whether it should stand at all. The mayor first ordered police to tear it down, then backed away when the health officer cited state law and demanded protection.
By nightfall, the pesthouse was complete. Soon afterward, flames were discovered burning against its side, and when the fire department arrived, hundreds of furious residents tried to stop the men from saving the building.
Firefighters were shoved, the chief engineer was roughly handled, and police had to be called in as Orange’s fear of disease turned into a fight over the very place built to contain it.
Pesthouse Afire
ORANGE, New Jersey. — An excited mob this evening tried to burn down the newly erected pesthouse. The chief engineer of the Fire Department was roughly handled and the furious crowd tried to prevent the Fire Department from saving the hospital.
The trouble began early in the day when Benjamin Finneran, the contractor engaged by William Schluer, the Health Officer of the Board of Health, began the work of building the pesthouse in the vacant lot bounded by Crane Street, Essex Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, and Mechanic Street.
He had hardly got his men at work before Mayor Stetson interfered, and ordered Police Captain Daniel Leary to tear the building down.
Mr. Schluer quoted the State Board of Health law, and demanded police protection. Then Mayor Stetson backed down.
Later the builder was ordered to stop by the presidents of the Board of Health, John T. Platt. Finneran replied that he had a contract from William Schluer, and refused to stop.
Feelings ran high, and a large and angry crowd gathered around the spot.
By night the building was completed. Soon after 7 o’clock an alarm of fire was sent out from Box No. 41, and when the firemen arrived they found a fierce fire burning against the side of the pesthouse. A crowd of several hundred excited Italians and others were gathered there.
When the fire apparatus drove up, a determined effort was made to stop its efforts. The members of the department were hustled about in an effort to prevent them from attaching the hose to the hydrant, and Chief Engineer James W, Hodgkinson was roughly handled.
Word was sent to the police station, and Captain Leary sent a posse of officers to the spot.
Source: New York Tribune. New York, N.Y. March 10, 1901.
