The Geauga County Health District was established in 1919/1920 under the Hughes - Griswold Act, a direct response to the influenza epidemic (pandemic) of 1918/9 in which more than one-half million people died in the United States and more than 20 million worldwide. Read more about the 1918/9 Great Pandemic here. Prior to its adoption, municipalities were responsible for their own health programs, meaning that nearly 2,150 health departments existed in Ohio. Most departments had little medical training or public health knowledge. Since the formation of public health agencies, the life expectancy of Americans has increased dramatically through the prevention of diseases through safe food and water supplies, sanitation, nutrition, vaccines, and antibiotics. These are the services and educational programs that are delivered through your local and county health departments in Ohio.
The Geauga County Board of Health held its first meeting on January 7, 1920. The Board of Health members included: Mr. J. O. Scott of Thompson, Mr. Peter Small of Chester, Mr. Hugh O. Bostwick of Chardon, Dr. J. A. Heeley of Parkman, and Dr. T. F. Myler, President, of Burton. At the first meeting a budget of $4,400 was adopted. On January 21, 1920, Dr. T. F. Myler was elected the first Health Commissioner on a part-time basis. Mr. Hugh Bostwick was elected President and Dr. Myler's position was filled by Mr. Frank Griffin of Middlefield.
The first public health nurse, Ms. Allyn, was hired in December 1920. The first clerk was hired sometime in 1922/3. The Health Commissioner became a full-time position in September 1923. The Health Commissioner at the time was Dr. G. L. Lyne, who had succeeded Dr. Myler in December 1922.
The Board hired Mr. C. S. Helling as the first Geauga County Sanitary Engineer. Mr Helling began work on August 19, 1946.
Geauga County Health Commissioners
1920 - 1922 Dr. T. F. Myler (part-time)
1923 - 1925 Dr. G. L. Lyne (part-time, became full-time)
1925 - 1950 Dr. W. C. Corey (full and part-time, Lake County Health Commissioner as well)
1950 - 1960 Dr. W. P. Edmunds
1960 - 1962 Dr. W. C. Hartland
1962 - 1964 Dr. James L. Kocour
1964 - 1974 Dr. B. M. Keller
1974 - 1978 Mr. Terry E. Hull
1979 - 1980 Mr. Frank Kellog
1980 - 1986 Ms. Jane Manyo-Mahoney, RN, MSN
1987 - 1991 Mr. Herbert Shubick, RS, MS
1991 - 1992 Mr. Fredrick A. Wood, DVM
1993 - 1999 Ms. Susan Negron, RN, MS
1999 - date Mr. Robert K. Weisdack, RS, MA, MPH
Geauga County Interim Health Commissioners
June - September 1925 Mr. W. C. Reese, Superintendent of County Schools
November 1963 - June 1964 Mr. Carl Dill, Sanitarian
February - September 1974 Ms. Ruth Baptie, Secretary
* September - December 1980 Ms. Sarah Eiremann, RN, Director of Nursing
* November 1981 - February 1982 Ms. Sarah Eiremann, RN, Director of Nursing
September - December 1983 Ms. Sarah Eiremann, RN, Director of Nursing
December 1986 - October 1987 Ms. Sarah Eiremann, RN, Director of Nursing
August - December 1992 Ms. Sherri Culver, Gortz Managment Firm
* due to Health Commissioner maternity leave
The first published regulation was adopted on July 11, 1944 outlined permits and inspections of farms that fed garbage to hogs. It included fees to cover the cost of issuing permits and performing the inspections. These regulations were revised into the first sanitary regulations enforced in the county in 1948. The regulation dealt with water wells, privies, sewage disposal, garbage disposal, dead animal and manure disposal.
Some other significant dates in the history of the Health District include:
1949 Sanitarians began the inspection of food-handling establishments, 27 years before the
State of Ohio adopted food service regulations. The main concern was food-handling
establishments, such as butchers or slaughterhouses. This quickly expanded to
restaurants and anyone that handled raw food. The first code was adopted in 1951
and was based on the American Public Health Association code. A portion of the code
included providing public ratings of restaurant performance.
Beginning January 1, 1954 the Board of Health levied an annual fee on all Food Service
Operations to offset the cost of inspections.
1953 House Trailer Park permits and licensing - 26 years before State of Ohio regulations
1955 Lot assessment and evaluation for sewage permits, Licensing of sewage/septic installers
1960 Geauga County Water Well Regulations
1961 Sanitary Landfill Regulations
1964 Gas & Oil Well Regulations
1965 Regulations for the Sanitation of Camps
The Health District was initially funded by the County Commissioners through inside millage. Over the early years of the Health District, the County Commissioners passed the cost on to the Township Trustees. Some State and Federal grants helped defray costs, but the scope of the health needs widened rapidly. As a result the Board of Health sought their first Health Levy in 1956. The five year one-quarter mill levy passed in the November election by a vote of 9,054 in favor, 5,261 opposed (63%).
The County Archives and Recorders Office provided us with a copy of the 1942 Inventory of the County Archive of Ohio portions that pertained to the Geauga County Health District. These records were the result of the Ohio Historical Records Survey Project. You can read these sections of the inventory here.
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