Long ago, epidemics, that is to say widespread but localized illnesses, often struck one community or region, miraculously sparing another. Such was the case in the spring of 1814 when Wiscasset was struck with an outbreak of spotted fever.

In those days Wiscasset was a thriving seaport, the busiest port of entry north of Boston. The fever struck without warning in early March, an ominous fog settling over the community. The sickness spread from one household to the next causing commerce in the village to come to a standstill. People fled to their homes, locked their doors and windows, praying they’d be spared.

“For weeks a cloud hung over Wiscasset, while in all the surrounding towns the sun shone bright and clear,” wrote attorney Rufus King Sewall in his diary. “The weathervane on the old steeple every morning seemed to be nailed to the northeast, while the pestilence raged unchecked.”  

Physicians had little success in treating people stricken with spotted fever, or in preventing its spread. Barrels of tar were placed throughout the village and set on fire at night in hopes the acrid smoke would ward off the pestilence. 

Among the first to perish in the epidemic was the Honorable Silas Lee, Judge of Probate and District Attorney for Maine. Squire Lee is maybe best remembered for having built the mansion overlooking the Sheepscot River known today as “Castle Tucker.”

Col. Ezekiel Cutter, commander of the local militia and Fort Edgecomb during the War of 1812, was another victim. It was Col. Cutter who supervised the building of another Wiscasset landmark, the 1813 Powder House used to store arms and ammunition.

Spotted fever claimed the lives of three of Francis Cook’s grown children; all died of the illness within 30 hours of one another. Cook served as Northern New England’s first Collector of Customs, having being appointed by President Washington.

Two doctors from Hallowell are credited with finally bringing Wiscasset’s spotted fever epidemic under control, although how they managed to do so is a mystery.

In the 19^th century there was also smallpox, cholera and diphtheria to contend with. These illnesses too were often deadly, afflicting young and old alike. Diphtheria was among the worst and often struck children who were more susceptible.

The worst of the diphtheria outbreaks happened in Wiscasset just as the leaves on the trees were turning amber and crimson in October 1861. In less than a week’s time, Isaac and Susan Williamson who lived in the countryside lost all five of their children to the disease including a set of twin girls.

The youngsters ranged in age from 7 months to 9 years old. Their small gravestones lie in a row at Woodlawn Cemetery. You can appreciate how small their caskets were by how far apart the footstones are.

Still more Wiscasset lives were lost when the dreaded Spanish flu appeared in 1918-1919; the worldwide pandemic claimed 5,000 lives in Maine alone.

Fast forwarding to the here and now, asking people to practice social distancing, or to self-quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19, doesn’t seem that bad. Does it?

We need to count our blessings. We live in a time when our physicians have vaccinations and medicines to use against the worst of these illnesses that still claim many lives in less fortunate parts of the world.

Phil Di Vece earned a B.A. in journalism studies from Colorado State University and an M.A. in journalism at the University of South Florida. He is the author of three Wiscasset books and is a frequent news contributor to the Wiscasset Newspaper and Boothbay Register. He resides in Wiscasset. Contact him at pdivece@roadrunner.com