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Lowell History: The Isolation Hospital

The Lowell Isolation Hospital, later called Meadowcrest Hospital. Officially opened in 1920. Partially opened in 1918 to treat victims of the Spanish Flu.

Brief chronology

1900

smallpox cases in Lowell

1901

Massachusetts state law “Every city in the Commonwealth shall establish within its limits and keep itself constantly provided with one or more isolation hospitals for the reception of persons having smallpox or any other disease dangerous to the public health.” Acts and Resolves Passed by the General Court of Massachusetts in the Year 1901 (Chap.171, pages 108 - 109)

Diphtheria cases in Lowell

1902

Tuberculosis added to the list of contagious diseases

1906

Tuberculosis camp opens

Massachusetts state law Chap.365 An act to revise the laws relative to the establishment and maintenance of pest houses by cities and towns.

1907

Massachusetts state law Chap.183 An act to authorize the state board of health to define what diseases are to be deemed dangerous to the public health.

Massachusetts state law Chap.480 an act to provide for the compulsory notification and registration of tuberculosis and other diseases dangerous to the public health.

1911

Proposed site - City Farm

Massachusetts state law Chap.613 An act relative to the maintenance of isolation hospitals by cities and towns.

1913

Proposed site - Pillsbury estate

1918

Hospital opened temporarily for influenza pandemic

1920

Hospital formally opened

1925

Filled to capacity

1927

Investigation of diet

1928

“county may take over”

1929

“Tuberculosis only contagious disease cause in January”

1930

“may lose its state subsidy”

1931

Health Board holds hearing/complaints of patients

1932

Scarlet fever outbreak in Lowell

1934

“a charge of assault”

1936

The Great Flood

1940

Hiss-Y dysentery controversy

1942

Desperate need for nurses

1943

“The help there are poorly paid”

Hospital may close due to shortage of help, high maintenance costs

1945

X-ray machine

1948

Sleeping sickness cases

1949

Excellent results with streptomycin

1950

Repairs and improvements

  

1952

Name change to Meadowcrest Hospital

1954

Rocky Marciano visits patient at the Meadowcrest Hospital

Massachusetts state law Chap.538 An act creating facilities for care of the aging.

1955

Massachusetts state law Chap. 559 An act relative to hospital care for tuberculosis patients.

1958

Farris Memorial Hospital closes

1959

Meadowcrest becomes a model

1960

proposed bill would close Meadowcrest

1961

Massachusetts state law “An Act Providing for Reorganization of Tuberculosis Care, Treatment and Control in the Commonwealth” to establish programs aimed at controlling and eradicating tuberculosis in the commonwealth.

1962

Meadowcrest to close Jan 1

1963

school plans approved

1964

“the new school to be constructed in Pawtucketville”