History Notes, 1898 appointment of Gov Medical Officer to Barraba
History Notes
There have been a few visitors to the museum this week with a variety of interests including Woods Reef and the Cotton family and also the Hagan family. These visits not only help the visitors, as we also learn from them.
This week we have a meeting and then it is not long until the next markets to be held on the 2nd September to coincide with the Frost Art Show. Our markets will be the same as usual with stalls etc and the museum open for visitors to inspect.
The sorting and filing of the boxes from storage continues with several items thought to be lost re-appearing. Recently we have answered a query about Dr Poggioli and this week I have found that he was appointed Government Medical Officer to Barraba on the 5th February, 1898-the wording in the newspaper as follows -
‘Vitaliano Poggioli Esq. M.D. & M,Ch. at the University of Bologna has been appointed Government Medical Officer and Vaccinator for the district of Barraba.’
The late Jack Witten remembered Dr Poggioli visiting his town patients on foot. He remembered the Dr. walking as far as Barraba Station about mid-night to check on the condition of a patient. If he was called to somewhere really out of walking distance he had a light, hooded buggy and a small bay pony. When driving he sat in the middle of the seat with a rein in each hand. The good Dr hired a larger outfit with a driver if he had some distance to travel.
In a 1901 newspaper there is an article re Mrs Cameron, who ran a hotel in Maude Street for many years after her husband died. She had sold portion of her corner block to the Bank of New South Wales who intended to build a new Bank and she had also built 2 substantial shops further along the main street.
Also, in this 1901 newspaper were two interesting items - Miss McKid has had a sightly and compact villa residence of hardwood and pine erected on her land on the bank of the river.
The second item was Mrs Brent built, of brick and finished in up to date style throughout, a handsome private residence opposite the hospital.
Sometime ago we were wondering where the old home, near the hospital, was situated - this could be it. Next week I have found some information from a Town and Country Journal dated 1907 concerning Frank Chesbrouggh and CG.Williams and Barraba's early history.