Paul Gorn 1878 - 1939 The Man Who Broke Quarantine

-


In July of the early 1900s, Tonawanda was dealing with several cases of smallpox — a disease feared not just for its mortality, but for how easily it spread. Homes with infected residents were placed under strict quarantine. No one was supposed to enter or leave.

Paul Gorn lived on Wall Street in Tonawanda. His brother, Charles Gorn, was one of those suffering from the disease. That meant Paul Gorn’s home was under quarantine.

On a Saturday evening, Paul Gorn ignored it.

He left the house, traveled to Kenmore, and made several stops there — potentially exposing countless people to the disease. On his way back, he went even further, stopping at the armory of the 25th Separate Company, where he took a bath.

When questioned, Gorn told the officer on duty that he had been vaccinated and was allowed inside. He was then permitted to leave.

Once health officials learned what had happened, the response was swift. Health Physician Harris was notified, and Chief of Police Diedrick announced that Paul Gorn would be arrested and prosecuted as soon as he was officially released from quarantine.

At the time, officials worked quickly to reassure the public. Other smallpox cases in Tonawanda were improving. Homes were disinfected. Families were slowly released from isolation. The disease, while frightening, appeared to be under control.

But Paul Gorn’s actions exposed a deeper fear — that all it took was one person breaking the rules to undo public health efforts.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

William Lawrence Barron and Edward alist

-
Image
1895-1918      William and his brother Edward were some of the first young men in Tonawanda to enlist in WW1 in 1917. They were also some of the first Marines to land in France.        Both of the Barron brothers spent months in the trenches of France. Together they experienced some of the bloodiest battles of the war, they even spent time guarding German Soldiers together.       They were wounded around the same time. Edward lost an arm to enemy fire. William was shot in the shoulder and his lung.        Both brothers found themselves recovering in the hospital at the same time. They remained strong and looked forward to being reunited with family at home. The first to go back to the states was Edward with William behind him by a few days.           Their mother who lived in Holley came to the Tonawandas to greet her returning son and wait for William who they had been tol...
Read more

William Richell 1922 - 1944 alist

-
Image
  1922-1944 KIA                                                                                              William was serving as a Second Lieutenant with the 3036th Base Unit in Arizona , where he worked as an instructor pilot . Rather than flying combat missions overseas, his role was to train other airmen — a responsibility that carried enormous weight. The lives of future crews depended on the skill, judgment, and calm leadership of instructors like William. While he served, William left behind his wife, Nora , and family in Tonawanda , all anxiously awaiting his return. Nora was herself preparing for a life of service, enrolled in nursing school while her husband was away. On the night of June 28, 1944 , William ...
Read more

Chester Fitzgerald

-
Image
                                                              Chester Fitzgerald Section G115 1896-1918 KIA: October 9, 1918  KIA The death of a child can change the course for a parents life forever. This is the case when it comes to Chester Fitzgerald and his mother.  Like so many other young men of the Tonawandas Chester enter the military during WW1 at the age 22.  He was assigned to  co I of the 125 Infantry. He was sent to France to fight in the first World War. He was young and brave, ready to fight for the freedom of so many.  Like too many other young men of his time Chester was killed Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The war ended a month after his death, but Chester's story didn't.  he young men returning home from war told Chester's parents that he had not died. They...
Read more