1936 Englewood Typhoid Outbreak

In late August 1936, alarm began to spread through Englewood as physicians recognized a growing number of cases of typhoid fever among residents. What first appeared to be scattered illness soon revealed a single, dangerous source. Health authorities determined that the outbreak had been traced to a spring on Booth Avenue, a place long used by residents as a convenient source of drinking water. Nearly every early victim, investigators found, had consumed water from the spring, which had served the community for decades. By the end of August, twenty actual and suspected cases had been identified in Englewood and surrounding communities, with thirteen confirmed patients already under treatment at Englewood Hospital.

The discovery triggered immediate action. Officials moved to close the contaminated spring and warned residents to avoid drinking from any unregulated water sources. The danger posed by polluted streams and wells was not new. Earlier investigations in the region had already demonstrated how contaminated brooks and springs along the Palisades could spread disease across wide areas. Public health officials urged that dangerous wells be sealed and warned that polluted streams had already been linked to dozens of typhoid cases in previous outbreaks.

Despite these warnings, the disease continued to spread during the first days of September. Emergency measures were declared as the number of cases climbed and the city confronted its first confirmed death. Hospitals filled rapidly, forcing authorities to adopt extraordinary precautions. The entire staff of Englewood Hospital—from physicians to kitchen workers—was inoculated against typhoid fever to prevent further transmission inside the facility. When patient numbers exceeded available beds, additional victims were transferred to Bergen Pines Hospital in Oradell, highlighting the strain placed on local medical resources.

Among the most tragic victims of the epidemic was Patrolman Charles Jackson, a respected member of the Englewood Police Department. Jackson held particular distinction as Englewood’s first Black police officer, a position that carried both responsibility and symbolic importance within the community. While performing his regular duties, he had stopped at the Booth Avenue spring to drink water, unaware that it had become contaminated. Within days, he fell gravely ill.

Jackson battled the disease for approximately two weeks as physicians struggled to save his life. His condition drew widespread attention, and residents followed updates anxiously as he fought the infection. Despite every effort, Patrolman Jackson died from typhoid fever, becoming one of the most widely mourned victims of the epidemic. His death struck deeply at the heart of the community—not only because he was a public servant, but because he represented a significant milestone in Englewood’s civic history as its first African American police officer. His passing served as a powerful reminder that the epidemic spared no one, regardless of position or status.

As fear mounted, public health officials expanded their response. By early September, authorities announced the opening of a free inoculation clinic at City Hall, where residents could receive protective vaccinations at no cost. Municipal Health Officer Dr. Hugh B. Martin confirmed that inoculations would be administered under the supervision of City Physician Dr. John Irwin, with new suspected cases continuing to emerge across the region. At the peak of the outbreak, Englewood Hospital reported dozens of confirmed infections, along with several suspected cases still under investigation.

Meanwhile, criticism and debate arose over how aggressively the city should respond. Some outside observers argued that failures in sanitation inspections had contributed to the outbreak and questioned the methods used to promote vaccination. Yet local officials remained firm in their belief that widespread inoculation represented the city’s best defense against further deaths.

The epidemic soon extended beyond Englewood’s borders. By late September, health officials in New York City traced three cases of typhoid fever to contact with an Englewood family whose members had been affected during the outbreak. Investigators reported that forty-nine cases had been documented in Englewood and nearby communities, with three deaths resulting from the disease. Even as new infections slowed, authorities continued to examine all springs in the area and ordered unsafe water sources permanently closed.

Gradually, the combined efforts of local officials, physicians, and residents began to slow the spread of disease. Public warnings remained posted near water sources, and vaccination campaigns reached thousands of residents. Over time, the number of new infections declined, and those still hospitalized began to recover.

Yet the memory of the epidemic remained deeply personal for many residents, especially those who remembered the loss of Patrolman Charles Jackson. His death symbolized both the danger of the epidemic and the courage of those who continued serving the community despite the risks. The outbreak ultimately became one of the most significant public health crises in Englewood’s history, demonstrating how quickly contaminated water could endanger an entire city—and how collective action could bring such a crisis under control.

“Typhoid Traced to Spring: Englewood Outbreak Is Well in Hand, Health Officer Says.” New York Times, August 30, 1936.

“Typhoid Laid to Jersey: Three Cases Here Are Traced to Contacts in Englewood.” New York Times, September 22, 1936.

“New Jersey Town Combats Typhoid.” Times Union (Albany, NY), September 12, 1936.

“Englewood Opens Free Clinic for Inoculation Against Typhoid Fever.” Associated Press. September 10, 1936.

“Bergen Acts to Curb Epidemic of Typhoid.” The News, September 4, 1936.

“Criticizes Typhoid Inoculation Methods.” Bergen County News, September 1936.

“Trace 3 New Cases to Typhoid.” Courier-News (Bridgewater, NJ), August–September 1936.

“Typhoid Outbreak Wanes.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), September 23, 1936.

“Second Typhoid Death—Policeman Victim.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), September 1936.

“Bergen Acts to Curb Epidemic of Typhoid—Hospital Staff Inoculated After Disease Claims First Victim.” The News, September 1936.

“Englewood Hospital Staff Inoculated After Disease Claims First Victim.” Morning Call (Paterson, NJ), September 11, 1936.

“Mass Inoculation to Fight Typhoid.” Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ), September 1936.

“New Jersey Joins in Fight on Typhoid.” Herald-News (Passaic, NJ), September 1936.

“Typhoid Outbreak Wanes.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), September 1936.