Today In Johnson City History: Feb. 17
Feb. 17, 1898: The Comet alerted readers to a smallpox scare. âMiss Lena Anderson, teacher in the high school of this city, left for her home in Jonesboro yesterday, where she will remain until the smallpox scare is over.â Smallpox is contagious and often fatal, and can be prevented by a vaccine. There is no treatment or cure for smallpox. Jonesboro was spelled that way at the time. Feb. 17, 1900: The Knoxville Sentinel, with a Johnson City dateline, reported, âIt is positively announced here that ex-Gov. R.L. Taylor has bought a residence in Knoxville from Col. William Caswell...
Source: johnsoncitypress.com