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A Little History
November 1903 through January 1904 Butler County
experienced a Typhoid Fever epidemic during which
1,587 persons were stricken and 127 died.
A Relief Society was formed the 28th of
November 1903 and a supply room was set up to
receive donations of clothing, bedding and
“eatables”. The Pittsburg Red Cross Relief
Society contributed a large amount of supplies.
The records of the Relief Society show a total of
4,038 pieces were distributed by the Red Cross and
9,600 pieces by the Relief Society.
Clara Barton of the National Red Cross Society
visited Butler on December 14, 1903.
Miss Barton and her staff inspected the hospitals
(some of which were in hotels and private
residence), the diet kitchen, the supply department,
and the method of conducting the relief work. Miss
Barton and her staff were so pleased with the work
being carried out by the relief society they felt it
was not necessary for Red Cross officers to remain
in the field.
The Relief Committee, action on the advice of Miss
Barton, who said that it would take $100,000 to meet
the expenses of the Relief Committee held a meeting
on the night of December 15 and prepared a statement
which was given to the Associated Press and was
published in all the newspapers in the United States
the following day. As a result of this appeal for
aid, the committee received fro all sources the sum
of $65,567.48.
Excerpt from 20th Century History of
Butler and Butler County, PA by James A. McKee, page
354) |
