Pest House (Stillwater, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Pest House
|
|
The Pest House with later additions at right and rear
|
|
 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 9033 Fairy Falls Road Stillwater Township, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Area | Less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1872 |
| MPS | Washington County MRA (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000408 |
| Added to NRHP | June 17, 1980 |
The Pest House in Stillwater Township, Minnesota, is a special old building. From about 1872 to 1910, it was used to keep people with very contagious diseases separate from others. This was a way to stop sickness from spreading.
This building is a rare example of a "pest house." These were common places in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They helped keep communities safe from serious illnesses. The Pest House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's an important historical site. Today, the original three-room building is a private home. It has had some parts added to it over the years.
A Look Back: The Pest House's Story
In 1871, the city leaders of Stillwater created a special health group. One of their main jobs was to stop diseases from spreading. They did this by keeping sick people away from healthy ones. This was called quarantine.
So, in 1872, the city bought land on a hill outside of town. They built the Pest House there. It was mainly used for people who had smallpox. But it also helped people with other serious illnesses. These included scarlet fever, typhoid, and diphtheria.
By 1910, Stillwater stopped using the Pest House. This was because hospitals started taking care of people with contagious diseases. Later, the building was changed into a private house.
