The 112th memorial day of John Charles Pritchard (1849 to 1905), who
died while serving as Salem municipal commissioner, was observed here on
May 12.

Popularly known as J.C. Pritchard, Barrister at Law, the
road connecting Sarada College Road and Cherry Road was named after him
as ‘Pitchards Road’. The name, however, has been spelt wrongly on the
signage as “Pitchard”.

During
the British rule, he served as the municipal commissioner and took
serious efforts to prevent the outbreak of malaria, cholera, which were
deadly diseases during the 19th Century. He was instrumental in opening
health clinics in the city and ensured that there was no outbreak of the
diseases. A famous lawyer, who actively involved in social services, he
died of illness on May 12, 1905. As a mark of tribute to him, the
municipality named the road after him.

On August 11, 2011, when
members of Salem Historical Society cleaned the bushes in the British
era Christian cemetery in Peramanur in the city, they found the grave of
Pritchard. The concrete-structured grave was found in a dilapidated
condition. Members of Salem Historical Society urged the district
administration to take steps to preserve it as a monument.