Our Past Is Present October 10, 2017

October 10, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            In October of 1909, Dr. Fred W. O’Donnell and Junction City Attorney, I.M. Platt, were tasked with inspecting all the hotels in Junction City to see that the hotels  were in compliance with the regulations of the State Board of Health. These inspections included fire protection, sanitary inspection and even the specifications of towels, sheets and pillow cases.

            Hotels were required to have fire alarm gongs of sufficient size to be heard in all parts of the building.  Ropes or other approved devices for fire escapes had to be in every sleeping room above the first floor.  The inspecting officer’s report had to show the kind and number of escapes and the arrangements of the lighting directing the way out of the hotel.

            Inspection of sanitary concerns had a large number of things to be considered.  The inspectors were required to inspect the offices, wash rooms, pantries, kitchen closets, back yards, dining rooms and bedrooms.  The pantries had to be rat proof.  Inspectors had to note that the towels in the wash rooms were individual or roller types, trash and tin cans were not allowed to accumulate in the back yards and garbage and to be removed from the kitchen.  There was even a check to see if dishes in the dining room area were kept clean and flies kept away from the tables.

            When inspecting the bedrooms in the hotels, one of the checkpoints was to measure that the top sheet on the bed was sufficient width and length to cover the bed and fold back over the upper end of the blankets for at least fourteen inches. Inspectors also had to verify that there were clean individual towels, clean sheets and pillow slips for each guest. 

            After making an inspection, the local officers reported to the State Board of Health concerning their judgment.  A certificate would then be issued to each hotel where the inspection had been passed.  Those hotels which did not receive a certificate were to be closed.

            And… that’s today’s story from the Geary County Historical Society.