DUFFERIN COUNTY  -   SPANISH INFLUENZA OUTBREAK

Newspaper items of interest during the outbreak

(This page was last updated: Sunday December 17, 2006)

Orangeville Banner dated 03-Oct-1918 Page 8, Column 5
INFLUENZA MAKES ITS APPEARANCE IN ONTARIO - Spanish Influenza...

Orangeville Banner dated 10-Oct-1918 Page 2, Column 7
"FLU" IN AMARANTH ....

Orangeville Banner dated 17-Oct-1918 Page 1, Column 4
A patriotic dance which was to have taken place in Carnegie Hall, Grand Valley, one night recently was postponed indefinitely owing to the prevalence of Spanish influenza.

Orangeville Banner dated 17-Oct-1918 Page 3, Column 3
Laurel
    Owing to the prevalence of Spanish influenza, both of our churches will be closed on Sunday and will remain closed until further notice. This step ahs been taken for the purpose of assisting the authorities in the measures they are taking to prevent the further spread of the disease.

Orangeville Banner dated 17-Oct-1918 Page 7, Column 3
INFLUENZA IN AMARANTH
    A decidedly serious outbreak of the dreaded Spanish influenza has occurred in the township of Amaranth. Dr. Campbell, of grand Valley, M.O.H. for the municipality, has already attended upwards of ninety cases. No less than seven members of the household of Thos. H. Keyes, near Amaranth Station, are laid up with the malady. Mrs. Keys has pneumonia as well and is in a serious condition. The first death occurred on Tuesday morning. The victim was Henry Ritchie, a young man of 20 years, son of Mr. Wm. Ritchie, of the 10th line. His death was caused by laryngitis and other complications following a severe attack of influenza.

Orangeville Banner dated 17-Oct-1918 Page 7, Column 5
MONO BOARD OF HEALTH
    The Mono Board of Health, at a meeting held on Saturday, Oct. 12th, decided to send out notices to the various school teachers throughout the township in regard to the prevention as far as possible of the spread of Spanish influenza. They ask any home affected not to mingle with the public; also all pupils in whose homes the disease exists to be kept from school, and depend on the parents to see that this regulation is observed. If not observed strict quarantine will have to be enforced.

Orangeville Banner dated 24-Oct-1918 Page 1, Column 3
    Shelburne High and Public Schools have been closed on account of the influenza.
    The Spanish influenza situation in Kitchener has reached such a stage that the local physicians and nurses were no longer able to cope with it last week.

Orangeville Banner dated 24-Oct-1918 Page 1, Column 4
    Owen Sound schools were closed last week on account of the prevalence of Spanish influenza.
    Shelburne Chautauqua has been postponed on account of the prevalence of Spanish influenza.
    The Advance states that there are at least three well defined cases of influenza in the vicinity of Flesherton.

Orangeville Banner dated 24-Oct-1918 Page 1, Column 5
    Mr. Holland, principal of Markdale public school, received word last week that his sister and niece had both died of the influenza.

Orangeville Banner dated 24-Oct-1918 Page 3, Column 2
DISTRICT W. M. S.
    Owing to the influenza epidemic the District W. M. S. convention of the Methodist church was not as well attended as the program merited.  However, there was a good attendance at the afternoon session.  Mrs. (Rev.) E. R. Young was unanimously chosen as District Organizer for the coming year.

Orangeville Banner dated 24-Oct-1918 Page 6, Column 5
PUBLIC NOTICE
    Public notice is hereby given that at a meeting of the local Board of Health of the Town of Orangeville held on the 23rd day of October, 1918, it was directed, on account of the present epidemic of influenza, that the "Gem" Theatre, Public Library, Bowling Alley, Pool Rooms, Churches and Schools in the Town of Orangeville be closed until permitted to be re-opened by the Medical Officer of Health of the Town of Orangeville and that all other public buildings and stores in the Town of Orangeville be disinfected every night after closing hours under the supervision of the Sanitary Inspector of the Town of Orangeville and that all public meetings be prohibited unless with the permission of said Medical Officer of Health.
    All persons interested please take notice and comply with the above directions.
            T. H. HENRY, M. D.
            Medical Officer of Health.
            for the Town of Orangeville,
    Orangeville, Oct. 23, 1918

Orangeville Banner dated 24-Oct-1918 Page 7, Column 1
    Mrs. Mae Hutchinson, of Brampton High School staff, who has been among the sufferers from the prevailing influenza had a fainting spell while procuring a drink of water one night recently.  She injured her face by falling against an iron pipe, and also sustained a severe injury of the ankle.

Orangeville Banner dated 24-Oct-1918 Page 7, Column 2
THE INFLUENZA OUTBREAK
    The Spanish influenza has reached Orangeville and there are quite a number of cases in and about town at the present time.  Fortunately most of them are comparatively mild and with proper care and medical attention there are not likely to be many deaths.  The  physicians and health authorities are taking precautions to prevent the spread of the disease.  The Public school closed Friday night and the High School followed suit yesterday morning.  The town churches are closing their Sunday Schools for the time being and will only hold church services on Sunday evenings until the epidemic is over.  There will be no morning services in any of the churches next Sabbath, with the exception of the 8 o'clock communion service in St. Mark's which will be held as usual.  On the whole the situation need occasion no alarm.  Citizens even best help the doctors here by keeping cool and taking necessary precautions against infections.

Orangeville Banner dated 24-Oct-1918 Page 8, Column 7
    On account of the Spanish flu, Grand Valley Board of Health has prohibited all public gatherings until further notice.  Schools and churches have been closed.

Orangeville Banner dated 31-Oct-1918 Page 1, Column 3
    The Advance states that there is a few cases of the "flu" in Flesherton.
    There are numerous cases of Spanish influenza in Arthur village and township.

Orangeville Banner dated 31-Oct-1918 Page 1, Column 5
    Euphrasia churches and public schools have been closed and all public gatherings have been prohibited.
    Arthur Township Board of Health has requested that all funeral in the township shall be private while the influenza epidemic continues.

Orangeville Banner dated 31-Oct-1918 Page 2, Column 2
HOSPITAL NOTES.
    Wanted -- Volunteers to act as Sisters of Service to assist in any way needed in the homes where there is sickness and in the care of the sick.  This is  an urgent appeal and it is hoped there will be an early response.  Something must be done to assist doctors and nurses in fighting the dread epidemic.  Any who are willing to help kindly leave names with Miss Barclay, Superintendent of Lord Dufferin Hospital.

Orangeville Banner dated 31-Oct-1918 Page 4, Column 3
OVER 100 HANDS HAVE FLU
    The Pease Foundry Co., Brampton, has been hit hard by the "flu." Over one hundred men were off last week and their company was obliged to discontinue the night shift.

Orangeville Banner dated 31-Oct-1918 Page 6, Column 2
NOTICE.
    The local Board of Health of the Municipality of the Township of Caledon directs that all schools, churches, public libraries and pool rooms shall be closed, and all public assemblies prohibited until such time as the influenza epidemic is considered under control.
    The above mentioned places must be thoroughly disinfected and shall not be re-opened without the permission of the Medical Officer of Health.
    By Order,
        Board of Health, Caledon
    Caledon, October 28th, 1918.       

TWP. OF EAST GARAFRAXA PUBLIC NOTICE
    The Board of Health of the township of East Garafraxa has requested all schools in the township to close this week and to be kept closed if its trustees think the re-opening of the schools will in any way cause the spread of the disease, influenza, and all public meetings and social gatherings are prohibited until further notice.
    By Order,
        Board of Health

Orangeville Banner dated 31-Oct-1918 Page 7, Column 2
    Owing to the influenza epidemic Mono Mills L.O.L. 192 will not hold their usual church parade on Sunday, Nov. 3rd.
    On account of illness in the homes of a number of the members of Mono College Women's Institute will not hold its regular meeting next week and will not meet again until further notice.

Orangeville Banner dated 31-Oct-1918 Page 7, Column 4
COAL SITUATION ACUTE.
    The seriousness of the anthracite coal situation has been further aggravated by the influenza epidemic, which has held up and to some extent demoralized work at the mines. So acute has the situation become that the Canadian Fuel Administrator is again impressing upon coal dealers the necessity of stocking up with wood and bituminous coal.  The following telegram, which has just been received by Treasurer John Norris, fuel commissioner for Orangeville, is self-explanatory:
                    Toronto, Oct. 26th, 1918.
John Norris,
        Orangeville, Ont.:
    Anthracite situation acute, especially by reason influenza epidemic demoralizing labor situation in transportation and mines.  It is therefore imperative your dealers at once meet almost certain shortage in your municipal anthracite allotment for this year by immediately putting in stock wood and bituminous coal.  You will impress dealers they must act on this advice immediately.
    E. L. COUSINS
        Fuel Commissioner

Orangeville Banner dated 21-Nov-1918 Page 2, Column 3
LOST THREE OUT OF FAMILY
    Mrs. John Anderson, of Willow Bunch, Sask., formerly of Everett, Ontario, has gone through a lost trying experience lately, having lost no less than three members of her family from Spanish influenza followed by pneumonia. First a son, Herbert, died in the Willow Bunch hospital on October 25th, at the age of 34 years and was buried on October 26th  At that time the mother and another son, John, were both in bed ill with the disease and were unable to attend the funeral. The only members of the stricken family who were at the funeral were a third son, Hunter, and a married daughter, Mrs. Chas. R. Abbott.  A couple of days after the funeral Hunter was taken ill and only lived five days.  His death took place on the following Friday at the age of 24  years.  The remains were laid at rest on the following day.  By this time Mrs. Abbott was also ill in bed, but seemed to be getting along very nicely.  The doctor visited her every day and held out good hopes of her recovery.  Sad to relate, she took an unexpected turn for the worse and on the Monday following her brother's death she too passed away.  Her funeral took place the following day.  Deceased was a young woman of 22 years and had been married only a little over two years.  She leaves to mourn her loss a sorrowing husband, but no children.  The only surviving members of the sorely afflicted family are the heart-broken mother and three sons, John at home, Robert at Bindloss, Alta., and Thomas in France.

Orangeville Banner dated 21-Nov-1918 Page 7, Column 1
    Orangeville public school closed again on Monday on account of a fresh outbreak of the flu. There is considerable sickness in the town at present. Fortunately very few of the cases are serious.

Orangeville Banner dated 12-Dec-1918 Page 12, Column 3
FLU IN ORANGEVILLE.
    A number of alarmist and sadly exaggerated reports have been circulating in the country regarding the number of "flu" cases in Orangeville.  Some of these make it appear that there are as many as 300 cases in town.  This is a gross exaggeration of the facts.  There has been considerable influenza in the town for the last two or three weeks, but it was nearly all of a mild type and there was no danger where the patients exercised reasonable care.  No new cases have developed within the last few days and the doctors say that the few local cases that now exist are all clearing up nicely.  The schools could be re-opened without any special danger, but it has been thought advisable to keep them closed until after Christmas to guard against all possibility of a recurrence of the malady.  Meanwhile business as usual is the motto on Broadway and country people need not have the slightest hesitation about coming to town to do their shopping. There have not been more than three or four cases along Broadway since the malady made its first appearance and none at all within the last two weeks.

Orangeville Banner dated 07-Aug-1919 Page 1, Column 3
    Spanish influenza has again made its appearance in London to a sufficient degree to attract the attention of local physicians.

Orangeville Banner dated 21-Aug-1919 Page 1, Column 4
    The Spanish influenza is again report in different sections of the country.  The public is warned to take every precaution to prevent its spread.  Those who did not have the pleasure of entertaining the "Flu" last winter may still have the opportunity the coming winter.

Orangeville Banner dated 19-Feb-1920 Page 7, Column 3
    There is a great deal of sickness in town at the present time. Fortunately the serious cases are improving.  This week should see us over the worst of the flu epidemic.

Orangeville Banner dated 26-Feb-1920 Page 6, Column 1
CALEDON.
    The Flu epidemic has not yet subsided and a number of new cases have been reported  Mr. Frank Hillock has been one of the late victims and has been very seriously ill.  His mother and little niece have also been ill with the same disease.  Mr. Joseph Campbell's family have al been laid up for the past week.  Miss Annie Lamont is also ill.  Dr. Thomas has certainly been a busy man, but has been very successful in his treatment of this dreaded malady.   

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This page was last Updated: Sunday December 17, 2006