In the early 20th century, the village of Saskatoon, along with its neighboring communities of South Saskatoon, Richville later called Riversdale, Cory, Nutana, Newcross, Duro, Mayfair, Sutherland, “Bois de flèche” or Arrow Woods and the wider region, faced a dire public health crisis that underscored the crucial link between clean water and human health.
The Scourge of Typhoid
There were 383 reported cases and 120 deaths, a staggering number given the province’s population at the time. In 1906, typhoid fever ravaged Saskatoon with shocking intensity. This epidemic was a glaring indicator of the urgent need for effective preventative measures. The story of typhoid fever in Saskatoon mirrored similar outbreaks seen around the world, emphasizing a common issue: where people lived without proper sanitation, typhoid fever was bound to spread.
The rapid growth of cities like Regina, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert during the early years of Saskatchewan’s existence outpaced their ability to manage sewage and water supplies. With the settlement boom, the infrastructure could not keep up. Contaminated water from improperly managed waste sources was a significant problem. Reports to the government highlighted the pressing need to address river and stream pollution caused by inadequate sewerage systems, but early efforts to pass legislation to prevent such pollution were deemed too drastic for the province’s stage of development and were ultimately abandoned.
Railroad construction camps also contributed to the spread of typhoid. The camps, which housed many workers, often lacked sanitary facilities, leading to further outbreaks. In these early days, there were no regulations to ensure the sanitary conditions of such camps, and workers who fell ill were often hastily removed to the nearest hospital if they even existed or dumped in any available town, exacerbating the spread of the disease.
In the early 20th century, Saskatoon and its surrounding communities faced a severe public health crisis driven by inadequate sanitation. Shallow wells, often located in basements, were commonly used for water supply. These wells were highly vulnerable to contamination from surface runoff and pollutants from pit privies and livestock. As Saskatoon rapidly expanded from a small village to a bustling city, the installation of water and sewer mains became crucial. New bylaws mandated that buildings must connect to these mains, but resistance from some property owners, who found the cost or mandate burdensome, led to significant conflicts.
Dr. W.J. McKay, appointed Medical Health Officer in 1910, took aggressive steps to address this issue. In 1912, he launched a campaign to close down contaminated wells, which were often in poor condition with rotten wooden cribs and manual bucket systems. Health inspectors, equipped with disinfectant and teams to fill in the wells, faced strong opposition. Some residents, such as Mr. Thomas Ellis, even tried to hide their wells, resulting in dramatic confrontations. Despite these challenges, McKay's efforts were crucial in tackling the typhoid fever outbreak that plagued the city.
Rapid city growth
In the early 1890s, the Temperance Colonization Society brought 3,100 would-be settlers to the area now known as Saskatoon, aiming to create a "dry" community across two million acres. The venture faltered, but by 1899, the east side of the river began to see development with the founding of Nutana, which incorporated as a town in 1903 with a population of 500. Riversdale, established in 1903, grew to become a village by 1905 with 100 residents. Meanwhile, the beginnings of Saskatoon on the west side of the river included a station house, a foreman's house, a Mounted Police barracks, and a hotel, with the population reaching 113 in 1901. By 1906, Saskatoon had grown rapidly to become a city with 4,500 residents, incorporating the neighboring communities of Nutana and Riversdale. The city’s development was bolstered by critical infrastructure, including the completion of the Traffic Bridge in 1907 and the rebuilding of the Qu'Appelle, Long Lake and Saskatchewan Railroad and Steamboat Company (QLSRS QLL&SR railway bridge in 1905 and 1914 (where the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge now stands). Saskatoon’s role as a divisional center for both the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway facilitated its growth, and by 1911, its population had surged to 12,000.
Silverwood’s Response to the Crisis
Against this backdrop of crisis, William Alexander Silverwood saw an opportunity. In 1909, he acquired land 7 km north of historical Saskatoon, in what is now Silverwood Heights, a neighbourhood of contemporary Saskatoon. The land was home to a natural spring with clean drinking water, a rarity in a city struggling with contaminated supplies. Recognizing the potential of this spring, Silverwood, alongside his nephew Clarence Routley, began bottling and selling the spring water to Saskatoon’s residents.
The introduction of Silverwood Springs offered a temporary relief to the water crisis. For a few years, the bottled spring water provided a clean alternative to the city’s tainted sources. However, in 1911, Silverwood built a barn on a hill above the spring, and waste from this barn eventually contaminated the water. By 1913, three cases of typhoid were linked to water from Silverwood Springs, though there were no recorded deaths associated with it. This incident illustrated the continuous challenge of maintaining clean water sources amidst a growing city.
Efforts to Overcome the Crisis
The city's struggle with typhoid prompted decisive actions from public health officials. Dr. W.J. McKay, appointed Medical Health Officer in 1910, was pivotal in drafting bylaws to address the city's sanitation issues. These regulations targeted improvements in plumbing, well construction, and waste disposal.
By 1911, Saskatoon’s efforts to improve water safety included the construction of its first water filtration plant, which began operation in 1913. This new facility significantly reduced the incidence of typhoid fever, demonstrating the profound impact of effective public health measures.
Legacy of Silverwood Heights and Public Health Improvements
Today, neighborhoods like Silverwood Heights and Silverspring serve as reminders of Saskatoon’s journey from a city plagued by waterborne disease to one that values and implements rigorous public health measures. The legacy of William Alexander Silverwood highlights the early attempts to address the city’s water crisis and the subsequent improvements that have shaped the city’s approach to public health.
The tale of typhoid fever in Saskatoon underscores a crucial lesson: the health of a community is inextricably linked to its access to clean water and effective sanitation. The challenges faced by early settlers, and the solutions they sought, have left a lasting impact on Saskatoon’s approach to public health and urban development.
South Saskatchewan River Biodiversity and Charm
As you meander along the South Saskatchewan River, you're likely to encounter a vibrant array of flora and fauna that make this river city a haven for wildlife and biodiversity. Do you think the animal fauna of the moist mixed grasslands may have also been susceptible to Typhoid fever? Keep an eye out for the graceful white-tailed deer, mule deer, as well as the elusive coyote and American badger. The river's edge is home to various bird species such as the Western Meadowlark, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and the striking Piping Plover. On the ground, you might spot the horned lizard, the harmless common garter snake, and the colorful Western Painted Turtle. Amphibians like leopard frogs and chorus frogs add to the area’s charm, while dragonflies and grasshoppers flit among the lush grasses and sedges. Did you know that in the early 1900s grouse would be flushed out in front of the person walking the river trails just as we would see grasshoppers today? In the mixed grasslands, the presence of Richardson's ground squirrel and the long-eared myotis bat highlights the rich ecological tapestry. Whether observing the diverse insect life, such as the monarch butterfly and bumblebee, or admiring the diverse plant species like wheatgrass and trembling aspen, living in a river city like this provides a unique opportunity to protect and appreciate the wealth of natural wonders in your surroundings.
All Saskatoon parks are open from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight.
Please bring your own pen or pencil, as the container is too small to hold same.
The GeoCache is not located at the virtual coordinates provided, please solve the following to obtain the physical coordinates. ;-)
To solve this puzzle fill in the following clues North Latitude 52 degrees 11.ABC minutes, West Longitude 106 degrees 36.DEF minutes
- What was the primary goal of the Temperance Colonization Society when they settled in the area now known as Saskatoon?
- To create a bustling trade hub A= wqwu
- To establish a "dry" community free from alcohol A= duzuw
- To develop a mining operation A= ewu
- To build a large agricultural center A= knluu
- In what year did Nutana incorporate as a town?
- 1899 B= wqwu
- 1901 B= dqc
- 1903 B= yule
- 1905 B= duzuw
- What was one of the main health issues that plagued Saskatoon in 1906 (in this story), highlighting the need for better sanitation?
- Tuberculosis C= jqzu
- Influenza C= kie
- Typhoid fever C= ewu
- Cholera C= duzuw
- Which bridge, rebuilt in 1905 and again in 1914, was crucial for Saskatoon's development?
- The Traffic Bridge D= kie
- The Senator Sidney L. Buckwold Bridge D= yule
- The QLL&SR Railway Bridge D= wqwu
- The Grand Trunk Pacific Bridge D= jexl
- What notable public health measure highlighted in this story did Dr. W.J. McKay implement to combat typhoid fever in 1912?
- He mandated vaccinations for all residents E= dqc
- He closed down contaminated wells E= uqrnk
- He introduced new sewage treatment plants E= ewu
- He improved public sanitation education E= jexl
- Which area of Saskatoon did William Alexander Silverwood purchase in 1909 to address the city's water crisis?
- Silverwood Heights F= jqzu
- Nutana F= dqc
- Riversdale F= wqwu
- Mayfair F= yule