Was Your State in Lock Down During the Spanish Flu of 1918? Study Your History!
Well, it’s quarantine day number…
How many days has it been?
I don’t even know. I’ve lost track. All I know is it’s been about a month of this social distancing/isolation stuff and I’m going nuts. If I didn’t have my husband and my darling pets I don’t know what I would do. Actually, I have a theory that pets worldwide may be the conspirators behind COVID-19. Because of this virus outbreak pets worldwide get to have their humans home all day! That’s got to be making some pets truly happy! I know mine are in total bliss having me home all day!!
Grizzabella’s official quarantine activities consist of solely sitting on my lap while I am reading or watching t.v. or on my desk while I am on my laptop. Or trying to sit on my laptop is more like it!
Total bliss. huh Grizz??
Dasher loves quarantine as well!
Watch Less News, Read More History
When this started I was glued to the news every day. However, after a few weeks of constant toxic doom and gloom coverage, I turned it off. On week two of the shut down I listened to a well-respected radio host and intellectual out of California named Dennis Prager. He gave the wise suggestion to watch less news, read the news instead, and make this time meaningful. After I heard this, I decided it was truly a wise decision for my life right now. So instead, I read the news in the morning for about thirty minutes then switch gears. Otherwise, getting sucked into the news puts me in a state of panic, anger, worry (I’m a chronic worrier on a good day), and unhappiness. And I have to try to be happy as possible during this time. I owe it to my husband, myself, and of course my pets!!!
Making This Time Meaningful
Following Dennis Prager’s advice, I’m trying to make this time meaningful. I’ve been cooking, exercising, taking walks on the beach, reading books and articles, and even writing a little bit.
One day while I was mindlessly scrolling through Instagram my local newspaper posted a clipping from a Lincoln County Oregon newspaper about the Spanish Flu in 1918. In that 1918 article clip, I learned that Portland and Lincoln County ( I’m not as sure about other counties in Oregon ) had gone on a complete lockdown quarantine as well. They closed businesses, schools, theaters, restaurants, churches, and implemented social distancing measures just like we are doing right now. I had no idea there had been an official quarantine ever before in our state or country.
State Quarantines During the Spanish Flu
Apparently, other states and cities did not quarantine, such as Philadelphia for example. But some states and cities shut down such as St. Louis, Missouri and Portland, Oregon. Oregon was one of the strictest states with shut down measures in the country during the influenza outbreak– just as they are one of the strictest states currently during the COVID-19 pandemic.
” ‘Sneezers and coughers beware!’ read the evening edition of the Oregon Journal on Oct. 5. “
People were warned that if they sneezed or coughed in a movie theater they would be asked to leave. And just like today, Mayor Baker of Portland was just as concerned as our leaders were about shutting down businesses and the economic fallout and he received a lot of criticism for it.
And also just like today, there were plenty of jokes created relating to the flu outbreak. One article in the East Oregonian on November 11, 1918, ran a cartoon called “Doings of the Duffs.” In the cartoon, a young child is pulling a pepper shaker off the table. He spills it causing the entire family to start sneezing. The father then calls the doctor, saying they all must have the Spanish flu!!
Sound familiar?
By the end of the pandemic over 3,688 Oregonians had died. The Spanish Flu took more deaths worldwide than World War I did at the time. And what a time it was: a world war, a pandemic, a quarantine, followed by prohibition being put into law. No wonder everyone rebelled in the roaring 20s with speakeasies, mobsters, and flappers flaunting rouge, lipstick, and short skirts!!!
When the flu ban was lifted people were filling the theaters and restaurants, just as I imagine they will after our COVID-19 shut down order is over. In fact, the day the schools reopened there was a political cartoon in the Morning Oregonian on October 16. 2018 that showed kids back in the classroom faking sneezes hoping to be released. The caption read, “Flu ban is off! School begins today.” Lol…kids will always be kids!
Knowledge Can Bring Peace…
At least for me anyway. When I read all these different newspaper clippings from 1918 and learned they went through the exact same type of quarantine, it was very comforting. People had the same fears we did. They feared the virus and they feared losing their businesses and jobs just as we are in this currently. I even imagine many people felt their constitutional rights were being shredded as well as governments shut down their businesses and freedoms. However, through it all, the country pulled through. Oregon’s economy came back–and it came back in a day when there was no massive federal government stimulus plan (as far as I know). But they pulled through and roared into the infamous 1920s!
If my fellow Oregonians survived that difficult time, so can we today! We have far greater support systems in place and better medicine and technology. It also truly comforted and quieted my terrified, staunch constitutionalist inner voice. The states and country got their freedoms back and we will too.
I hope you all are doing okay. Hug your little pets, read your books, watch funny movies, and do whatever you have to do to survive right now. Maybe even research your home state and see how they handled the Spanish Flu of 1918.
I look forward to the day when we will all be free from this awful period in history. We will, I know we will.
I love you all and wish you the best!
References:
https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-portland-spanish-influenza-coronavirus-pandemic-history/
Related Posts
