continued passages from the book by Robert E. Sterling
The Pest House...The first hospital in Joliet.
"For many years before hospital care was available in Joliet -- and even for a short time thereafter -- [there was an] old house [which was] used as a quarantine center for people with contagious diseases. The "pest house," as it was known, orginally stood on a five-acre parcel of land which was also used as a burial ground, first, for pioneers, and later for paupers. Owned by Robert Stevens, the hilly land was on the west side of Walnut Street, where RidgeWood Park is located today.
During the smallpox epidemic of 1882, local newspapers regularly reported on the condition of people in the "pest house" on "QUARANTINE HILL." One patient, who signed "Red Cross," wrote to the newspaper during the epidemic: "Our stay at this place is an episode never to be forgotten in our lives."
As the health department became more successful in preventing epidemics, the "pest house" was finally abandoned. In the winter of 1888, a small group of Baptists established a Sunday School mission in the building. [Eight years later it was sold and was] moved down the hill to the east side of Walnut [and] was converted into an apartment building. [In the 1950's the building was showing an 100 year history and was decided to be demolished.]
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