The Historic Rubble

Here lie the remains of the Dr. Germain home.  Dr. Germain was the County Superintendent of Health in 1889.  Dr. William A. Germain was born in Wisconsin in 1855.  He graduated from the Butler Medical College at Butler, IN in March 1882.  Upon graduating he left for Sioux Falls where he began his practice within the month.  He was affiliated with all the Masonic groups located in Sioux Falls and held numerous board positions.  He was a prominent member of early Sioux Falls Society.  

Looking at the dates of his practice in Sioux Falls, it is apparent that he was one of the physicians that helped with the Typhoid Fever epidemic that struck 10% of the Sioux Falls population.  (In my notes, I see that one account said it affected 50% of the citizens of Sioux Falls.)  The physicians were so busy, they couldn't make housecalls outside the city and often just sent medicine.  In 1889, the Scarlet Fever epidemic landed in Sioux Falls.  Dr. Germain was present for that as well.  He was highly regarded as a physician, surgeon and citizen.  Sorry, Dr. Germain about the house.

As a side note, the stain glass window that I mentioned in the Argus article was no longer in the window of the Germain house. Someone has taken it and nobody is aware of who...