Early Files: Scarlet fever outbreak in 1932 at Marstons Mills

The Early Files includes stories from the archives of the Barnstable Patriot.

1862

The fair: This day and to-morrow are the days of the Annual Fair. The preparations and arrangements are complete, and we anticipate an Exhibition which shall be creditable to the Society and to the County. The new Hall will be found to be far superior, in taste and convenience, to the old one; and the Grounds have been very greatly improved, by under-draining and by the filling in on the wet portion of the walks. We have reasons for believing, should the weather prove favorable, that the Fair, in all its departments, will be entirely successful.

1872

The mackerel fleet are hovering around our shores (off Barnstable), some 300 sail having been in sight from our office every fine day for the past week. They present a beautiful appearance, and we hope they are taking the lively fellows over the rail in such numbers as to make it profitable; but we fear such is not the case.

1882

Barnstable: Steamer Daisy, (Captain) Crosby, arrived Wednesday last, with supplies for the lighthouse at Sandy Neck … A petition is in circulation and will be presented to Congress to establish a Life-Saving station at Sandy Neck … The schooner Druid was floated off Sandy Neck Wednesday, and is now inside the Point re-loading, and will be ready to sail in a day or two. (Note: These Sandy Neck items appeared together in the Barnstable village news column of the Oct 17, 1882 Barnstable Patriot.)

1892

Hyannis: An old gentleman by the name of Duffy, from Dennis, was in town last week with a yoke of oxen, and a load of garden truck. The team attracted considerable attention on the street, as it was a rare sight. Ox teams are not as plenty in this part of the country, as they used to be, and it pleased the small boys to see the old gentleman drive the team.

1922

Osterville: Mrs. Edith W. Allen is picking a pint or more of raspberries from her ever-bearing vines every other day, a luscious treat at this late season. (Note: A few weeks earlier, the Sept. 25, 1922 Patriot announced that Mrs. Edith W. Allen of Osterville was requesting donations of books and magazines for the Seamen’s Bethel in Woods Hole in order to “make less tedious the dull winter days the sailors spend at sea.”)

1932

No cause for alarm: Assurances have been given by the authorities that there is no real cause for alarm in regard to the scarlet fever situation at Marstons Mills even if the disease is unchecked after it has existed since last March, prevailing there and in Cotuit. It is admitted by the school authorities that a dozen or more pupils are out of school on account of the epidemic. All the cases are said to be mild and not a real virulent one has been discovered as yet.

1942

Bowling season underway: Women bowlers of Hyannis showed their stuff Tuesday night when the five women rolling as the Can-Du-It team eked out a marginal win over the Five Star Finals. Marguerite Thacher of the Five Star Finals led the entire group with a score of 280; while honors on the Can-Du-Its went to Mary Dwyer with a 256. (Note: Other team names included the Spare-Ribs, the Hav-Dun-Its, and the We Doods Its.)

1952

More than 1,100 additional town of Barnstable residents are eligible to vote in the Presidential election next month than were registered for the 1948 Presidential balloting. A total of 6,544 adults now are registered, Town Clerk Clarence M. Chase said today. In 1951, 5,851 voters were registered and in 1948, 5,410. (Note: In 1952, the largest precincts in town were Hyannis South and Hyannis North, with 1,726 and 1,470 registered voters, respectively.)

1962

Once again the Women’s Guild of the West Parish Church in West Barnstable (is) planning a public roast beef supper. Date is Saturday, Oct. 20, with two sittings, at 6 and 7 p.m. These roast beef suppers are always looked forward to by the public. Menu this time will be two vegetables and baked stuffed potato, roast beef, and dessert and coffee. Whether you come at 6 or 7 there will be plenty of delicious food.

1972

Cape Cod Community College, as an open test center for the college level examination program, will offer the first of its monthly test series during the third week of October. The general examinations will be given in Room 120, North Classroom Building, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, and the subject examinations on Friday, Oct. 20 … Basic purpose of the program is to enable those who have reached the college level of education in non-traditional ways to assess the level of their achievement and to use the test results in seeking college credit or placement. (Note: It was further explained that the tests were “very difficult” and would be comparable to the knowledge of “an average college sophomore.”)

1982

Frisbees fly for fun and prizes Saturday, Oct. 16 at Cape Cod Community College's athletic fields. It's the alumni association's first annual Frisbee tournament, open to everyone, with competition beginning at 9:30 a.m. Prizes will be awarded to top finishers in each event, including distance, golf, and self-caught flight. Competition will be in novice, intermediate, and expert categories.

1992

An addition to the goals and policies of the town of Barnstable has been proposed as a way of curbing commercial parking facilities in the Hyannis waterfront area. Citing a number of past and recent goals, the resolution seeks to encourage the development of an off-site parking and regional transportation facility. It would also encourage town boards and commissions to "follow and apply these guidelines when consistent with the laws of the Commonwealth." This was referred to the council's planning and development committee.

2002

Health Adventures Program kicks off: Cape Cod Hospital and the Barnstable Public Schools have recruited 12 seventh-grade students from the Barnstable middle schools to participate in the Health Adventures Program developed by the American Society of Directors of Volunteer Services. Students will work weekly on a Saturday morning at their mentor's side at Cape Cod Hospital, where they will participate in learning modules that include visits to the operating rooms and the emergency room.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Early Files: Marstons Mills deals with Scarlet fever outbreak in 1932