Warm, humid, salty air hovered over the city like a blanket. The unsuspecting small coastal community was bustling with energy and possibility; the town was alive with the sound of creaking ship masts, vendors, and on Market Street, new shops and businesses were settling in as the economy began to show signs of life.

One reason for the growth and prosperity was trading routes from faraway lands. Ships came from Europe, the Caribbean, and even China, carrying cargoes filled with lumber, tobacco, rice, and flour, as international trade expanded. In the 1790s, the port of Philadelphia was home to the busiest harbor in the New World.

But along with great prosperity came a dreaded sickness for which small port cities were unprepared. The illness seemed to strike randomly but with more regularity, usually in the summer months, and no cause could be determined. Many theories began to emerge about this deadly illness that was like no other. It would strike without warning and turn thriving communities into ghost towns in a matter of weeks.