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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 2020)
HISTORY A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 ‘The withering hand of a widespread infectious disease’ A look at Hermiston’s handling of the Spanish infl uenza pandemic In 1918, 1919 and 1920 the Hermiston Herald cov- ered another global pan- demic of a disease known as the Spanish infl uenza. The following excerpts of the Herald’s coverage of the beginning of the pandemic give a glimpse at what life was like in Hermiston during that pandemic, just over 100 years ago. • • • Dairy and Hog Show has been postponed Oct. 19, 1918 Right on the even of peace rumors from Europe, was in the shape of the Spanish infl uenza broke out in the United States and spread with such rapidity that it struck around Herm- iston at the eleventh hour of the holding of the Dairy and Hog Show, and thereby put a quietus on an annual event that is always her- alded with pride and joy by ranchers and citizens alike. Elaborate preparations had been made this year by the management of the fair to make the event one that would go down in the annals of Hermiston His- tory as being on a far more stupendous scale than any of the fi ve proceed- ing Dairy and Hog shows. But the withering hand of a widespread infectious dis- ease had to step in at an inopportune time and put a stop to these well laid plans that meant so much to the dairymen, hog raisers and agricultural people of this community, who have yearly taken just pride in exhibiting the products of their farms. But with good grace all bow to the precaution- ary measures enjoined by a rigid quarantine, and agree that the mayor’s proclama- tion closing schools, the Movie, abandoning church services and stopping all public gatherings is the best method of safeguard- ing the public against the spread of infl uenza in this neighborhood. Pendleton is under strict quarantine, as are many other towns in the county, including Echo, Stan- fi eld and Umatilla. These places, like Hermiston, are following a mandatory order from the state board of health, which has issued an order under instructions from the surgeon general of the government board of health, to put all towns in the state of Oregon under quarantine, with a view to stamping out the disease at as early a date as possible. • • • Staff photo by Jade McDowell The Hermiston Herald reports on an outbreak of the Spanish infl uenza in Hermiston in November 1918. THEREFORE, BY AUTHORITY IN ME VESTED, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRESERVING THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY I DO HEREBY ORDER THAT ALL CHURCHES, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, LODG- ES, POOL AND BILLIARD HALLS, PICTURE SHOWS, LIBRARIES, DANCE HALLS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DANCES BY HEREBY CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER ORDER. J. D. Watson, acting mayor during the illness of F. C.McKenzie, Dec. 28, 1918 the breath of others. Keep your homes, offi ces and business houses well aired. Keep well oth- erwise. Keep the body well fed and properly clothed. With children the use of milk is recommended. Sneeze in a handkerchief. Most persons take sick rather suddenly with the “Flu.” They feel weak, have pains in eyes, ears, head or back or are sore all over. Some feel dizzy and vomit. Most complain of feeling chilly followed by high temperature. Some- times before these symp- toms they look sick, have blood shot eyes, running nose or some cough. The fever lasts three or four days. When you take it go home and go to bed at once. No one should sleep stamp out the disease the city administration must have the cooperation of every citizen. It is import- ant that we observe rules and regulations to this end or the disease will spread rapidly with sad results. I therefore ask that every man, woman and child in the city use every precau- tion possible in a vigorous attempt to prevent further spread of the epidemic. Do not congregate in any building. Do not allow children to play in groups, and when two or three play together be sure none have been near exposure. It is espe- cially important to guard children. Do not travel on trains any more than absolutely necessary. Try to avoid coming into contact with in the same room with the patient. All discharges from eyes, nose or mouth should be collected in gauze or rag as precaution. It is well for attendants to wear a wrapper or gown and gauze mask. — Mayor F.C. McKenzie • • • Infl uenza quarantine to be lifted tonight Nov. 16, 1918 After a battle of three weeks in an endeavor to stamp out Spanish infl u- enza in this neighbor- hood, Mayor McKen- zie this Saturday evening will proclaim the lifting of the quarantine, which will admit of church-going people to attend worship on Sunday and everything resume normal condition Monday. Simultaneously Chair- man J.D. Watson of the local school board will serve notice of the re-open- ing of the Hermiston school on Monday morn- ing of the coming week. Mr. Watson also desires to notify teachers and pupils that school will take up fi f- teen minutes earlier each morning and the lunch hour shortened that much at noon. This will add an half hour to normal school time, and is being done to make up for lost time on account of the enforced vacation. The careful follow- ing of the quarantine reg- ulations as laid down has completely stamped out the fl u here it is thought, for only one new case has appeared in Hermiston within the past week, that being W.F. Smith on the Dishon place in the west- ern part of down, and at this writing he has almost fully recovered. Out in Columbia dis- trict, however, there are several cases yet, and on this account quarantine on school and gatherings may remain in force there for a week or ten days to come. • • • Hermiston in throes of real infl uenza epidemic Dec. 28, 1918 After having been fairly well immune from the infl uenza epidemic that broke out in the state of Oregon in the fall of the present year, the city of Hermiston is now in the grip of the disease for fair, with a sprinkling of pneu- monia thrown in. Isolated cases there have been right along, but early precautions taken by the city authorities by plac- ing of the city under rigid quarantine regulations had cleared up the Flu situa- tion, and it looked as if the town was going to get by without an epidemic. A week ago health prospects were rosy, there being very little sickness in the com- munity at the time. But with one fell swoop infl u- enza broke out and spread with alarming rapidity until now there are many cases reported here. The doctors are on the go day and night, and it is hard to get nurses to take care of the sick. ... The disease had gained such headway by Tuesday that at a confer- ence of the council it was decided to place the city under strict quarantine reg- ulations, and as a result the Flu ban went into effect at noon on Christmas day with the issuing of the fol- lowing proclamation by J.D. Watson, acting mayor during the illness of F.C. McKenzie: Wheras, infl uenza is breaking out in our city to a greater extent than before, it behooves the City of Hermiston and its inhabi- tants to adopt measures to check the further spread of this disease in our midst. Therefore, by author- ity in me vested, for the purpose of preserving the health of the community I do hereby order that all churches, religious orga- nizations, lodges, pool and billiard halls, picture shows, libraries, dance halls, public and private dances by hereby closed until further order. I further recommend that all stores, restaurants, meat markets, hotels, offi ces, banks and other places of business where people are in the habit of assembling for the pur- chase of merchandise or transaction of business shall use diligence in ven- tilating and otherwise rendering hygienic their places of business. DID YOU KNOW... 9.3 MILLION PEOPLE experience thoughts of suicide EVERY YEAR SUICIDE AWARENESS WEEK IS SEPTEMBER 6-12, 2020 Join us for a FREE Virtual Lunch & Learn on Suicide Awareness presented by UCo Health: September 10th at 12pm Infl uenza in Hermiston Nov. 2, 1918 The county health offi cer has visited Hermiston and found a number of cases of Spanish infl uenza in our midst. In order to successfully Contact 541-667-3509 or healthinfo@gshealth.org to register PET OF THE W EEK Reece is a very chill & sweet old man that is about 10 years old. He loves to be around his people, but not super cuddly, but he loves to have his ears rubbed. He loves to sit outside in the shade and feel the wind on his face. Reece does have some aging issues, is on a strict diet for his weight and will need regular grooming. Due to his age and health, we prefer he isn’t around young children. MEET REECE Mark Sargent, DVM • Brent Barton, DVM Eugenio Mannucci, DVM, cVMA • Jana von Borstel, DVM, cVMA Small and Large Animal Care Mon: 8-6 Tue - Fri: 8-5 Sat: 8-12 Emergency Service 541.567.1138 80489 Hwy 395 N Hermiston www.oregontrailvet.com Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, animal shelters need our help more than ever. Please donate to your local shelter, or offer to foster an animal in need. If interested please go to fuzzballrescue.com and fill out an application. If you are not able to adopt, but would like to foster or donate, visit fuzzballrescue.com or you can mail in donations to Fuzz Ball Animal Rescue, PO Box 580, Hermiston, OR 97838 CAR TROUBLE? LOST YOUR LICENSE? DON’T WORRY! WE GOT YOU COVERED! A WORC taxi will get you to and from your job anywhere in western Umatilla County. Anyone who comes in through the end of December, can get four FREE punch cards, which equals 40 one-way rides to/from work. Visit https://hermiston.or.us/public-transit to find out how to sign up, and how WORC and the HART bus service work together to connect Hermiston.
