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The ban continued, but optimism was felt that the ban would be lifted soon. Dr. J.H. Vogel projected that the ban on public meetings will not end for at least a week.24
November 2, 1918
The State Board of Health banned all public funerals throughout the state. Burial could only be held from the residence, and only the immediate relatives of the deceased person could attend the funeral.25 In New Ulm, the public meeting ban had been extended another week as a precaution. The number of cases did not exceed thirty; however, the flu continued to spread rapidly in the rural areas, including St. George. In Marshall and Granite Falls, the flu was spreading rapidly. The quick action of banning public meetings taken by J.H. Vogel prevented this type of disaster from occurring here in New Ulm.26
November 4, 1918
The closed period for New Ulm continues throughout this week, totaling four weeks. A dozen new cases were reported to Dr. J.H. Vogel.27
November 9 and 16, 1918
Dr. L.W. Bowers and Dr. Lee Smith each put an article in the Brown County Journal explaining how to fight the influenza virus. Dr. Pierce Pleasant Pellets and anuric tablets are mentioned. Dr. R.V. Pierce was a physician and entrepreneur in the early 1900s based out of Buffalo, NY. His book The Peoples Common Sense Medical Advisor was an encyclopedia of medical knowledge intended for home use, and sold over two million copies.28 In addition to his book, he developed a line of so called medicines to help with different disorders.29 For influenza, Pleasant Pellets, Anuric Tablets, and Golden Medical Discovery were recommended. People were desperate to prevent getting sick with influenza. In addition to Dr. Pierces medicines, folk remedies and gimmicks were widespread. People were more willing to do something wrong than do nothing at all. Doctors were even at a loss of what to do.27 It is known in the year 2003 there is not any medicine which can kill a virus; medicines only suppress the symptoms until your bodys immune system fights it off.
November 12, 1918 World War I ended.
November 23, 1918 The public ban in New Ulm continues Thanksgiving week, because the flu epidemic is not subsiding. Church services are not reinstated to celebrate and give thanks. In Sigel Township the epidemic is widespread and has a large number of cases.30
December 2, 1918
The public ban is lifted in New Ulm. After 7 weeks, schools reopened, including New Ulm Public Schools, and the parochial schools. Dr. Martin Luther College remained closed until December 11. Picture shows, church services, and meetings were allowed once again, but influenza cases would continue to be throughout the winter. By this time, the crest of the illness had passed. People were warned to avoid interactions that could spread the illness or the ban would have to be reinstated. It was also recommended that families affected by influenza should remain at home.31
December 7, 1918
Schools reopened in the New Ulm area, and attendance ranged from 55% to 100% in the ward and high school buildings of the local public schools. The only department where attendance was perfect was in the normal. The attendance was poor in the lower grades of the ward buildings and in the Catholic and Lutheran parochial schools. Some classes were as low as 50%, and others as high as 75% attendance. All of the teachers in the public school were back, ready to teach, and make up for lost time. The school board met to decide how the seven weeks would be made up. Suggestions were: 1) after the first of the year, school could be held on Saturday mornings each week, 2) only one week vacation at Christmas time, 3) hold school on Washington and Lincolns birthdays, and/or 4) extend the end of the school year. The final decision was to be made by Superintendent HC Hess. An adjustment of teachers salaries was also discussed.32
The influenza ban was lifted in Redwood Falls for the second time. Deaths were occurred daily in Princeton, causing a shortage of coffins.33
Spain and England reported an increase in tuberculosis as a secondary illness to influenza victims. One million cases of Tuberculosis cases were reported in the United States, and the United Public Health Service issued a warning. New York City reported 35,000 cases of tuberculosis with the Department of Health.34 Statistics show that one in every 100 people affected by influenza could be affected by tuberculosis.35 Recovered influenza victims were recommended to have their lungs carefully examined by a physician every month for several months. Danger signs of TB were feeling tired, and colds that hang on. At this time in history, TB was curable in the early stages.36
December 14, 1918
Five out of 12 telephone operators at the local exchange in New Ulm Rural Telephone Company were sick with influenza, causing a service delay. It was recommended that only phone calls of necessity were to be made.37
December 21, 1918
In response to the flu vacation, the schools were only closed for 1 week over the Christmas holiday; the students returned on December 30. The Lutheran schools would only close for Christmas Day and New Years Day. At this point in time, the Catholic schools vacation would be short, but no details were given.38
December 25, 1918
One million dollars was given to scientists to come up with a vaccine that would prevent influenza. Unfortunately, the vaccine they designed was for bacteria, not the culprit of the epidemic. At this time in history, scientists had never seen a virus, and didnt know how to fight them. The flu vaccine was advised for all people who hold life insurance policies. Because of the unusual amount of people who were dying between the ages of 15 and 40, the insurance companies were in a crisis dealing with pay outs.39
December 28, 1918
To bring humor to the devastating influenza epidemic, the Flu Flitter becomes a new dance. You take one step forward, sneeze twice, pivot and swallow two quinine capsules, swing your partner, then cough in unison, take two steps backwards, and blow your noses, and waltz home and consult a doctor.40
January 4, 1919
As of the new year, no new cases of influenza were reported in New Ulm. The Minnesota mandated public ban on church funerals had been lifted, except in the case of death from influenza, pneumonia, and other communicable diseases.41
January 15, 1919
The William Meyer home in Courtland was a place for influenza victims to gather and get treatment. At least 16 patients were gathered at this home for treatment and home care. Miss Hulda Lieder was a nurse there who subcummed to the illness. Here in this home, Fred Meyer and his wife Martha died within two days of each other, leaving their children as orphans.42
February 15 - March 15, 1919
The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 was noted as the Worst Plague in 400 years.43 In the United States, it was reported that there were a half of million influenza deaths. Minnesota reported 126,973 cases with 7,269 deaths occurring from influenza. Minnesota was considered to be one of the healthiest states in the union because we reported the fewest cases of the influenza. The birth and death statistics from 1918 were received by the Clerk of Court, Carl P. Manderfeld received a report from the state for Brown County.44
March - September 1919
In the spring and summer, the flu pandemic subsided. People resumed their lives, putting this terrible ordeal behind them, until another wave of the flu started to surround them again. The previous winters pandemic would heed extra caution with the coming flu outbreak.
September 13, 1919
The summer flu was being spread, and the symptoms included an inflamed nose, unusually high temperature of 103 to 104 degrees, sneezing, and muscle aches. The number of cases in the United States has been increasing and the flu was spreading as rapidly as the influenza pandemic of 1918-19. The duration of this influenza was 3-5 days, and was not considered to be serious. To everyones relief, no deaths had resulted as of this time.45
September 20, 1919
Due to the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-19, large amounts of money paid in insurance death claims. The Insurance Press (serving the United States and Canadas Insurance companies) calculated the life insurance distributions in 1918 to be $660,075,000 for deaths, matured endowments, and annuities. Out of this amount, the epidemic was estimated to have cost the life insurance companies $100,000,000 for normal, non service individuals. $150,000,000 was paid out in war risk insurance payments to the families of servicemen. Some of the largest amounts paid out in the area included $125,000 in Mankato, $107,250 in Fairbault, $40,750 in Fairmont, $23,250 in St. Peter, $23,250 in Blue Earth, and $15,500 in New Ulm.46November 12, 1919
The State Board of Health was concerned the summer flu would become a second epidemic in the winter months. The board made some preventative and drastic regulations that were reported by Dr. J.H. Vogel. The first included the disease must be reported. The second, premises must be quarantined, secretions from the nose/throat destroyed, children kept home from school for 5 days after the last clinical case of influenza, no visitors, wage earners should be kept away from the sick, if you are sick, do not handle food, clean utensils properly, and use face masks to prevent the spread of the illness. The quarantine must be
maintained for 5 days following death or recovery and the health officer must follow proper procedures. Public meetings should be prohibited, and exposed people should be excluded from gatherings. If death occurs from the illness, the person must have a private funeral with a closed, sealed casket.
At this time, no flu was reported in New Ulm.47
January 24, 1920
Local physicians at this time were busy with flu cases that were spreading in the New Ulm area. There were many cases in New Ulm and the rural areas, but none were severe. Local doctors stated the flu was not as severe as last year. The symptoms included a high fever, severe cold, inflamed eyes, and achy limbs. It lasted for several days, however recovery was rapid.48
January 31, 1920
Influenza continues in New Ulm with reported cases being 75-100; luckily only a few were seriously ill. It was recommended to take care so pneumonia would not occur. Local doctors stated that the epidemic was worse in Lafayette, Nicollet, Sigel, Cottonwood, and Milford Townships. The epidemic was not severe enough in New Ulm to cause the closing of schools or ban public meetings. Many cases were found in other places of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, Rochester, Albert Lea, and Mankato. Mankato was the worst hit, with 600-700 cases. Few deaths were reported; however public meetings were suggested to be avoided.49
February 4, 1920
The number of influenza cases in New Ulm (as well as rural districts) had increased in the latest week, and is continuing to increase at a rapid rate. The New Ulm Board of Health consisting of members Dr. J.H. Vogel, A.O. Olson, and August Dahl moved to again ban all public dances, meetings, entertainment, social gatherings, and lodge/society meetings. This was another attempt to decrease the spread of influenza in New Ulm. The official order stated:
Whereas, the undersigned as health officer of the city of New Ulm, Minnesota, deems it advisable and necessary in order to prevent the further spreading of contagious disease in the city of New Ulm, to prohibit all public meetings, entertainments, gatherings, and dances and all private parties and dances.
Now therefore, it is ordered that henceforth and until this order is by me rescinded or modified, all public meetings, gatherings, entertainments, and dances and all private dances and parties of every kind are prohibited.
It is not intended to hereby to prohibit the conducting of classes at the schools within the said city, nor incident activities and such school classes and incidental activities will be regulated as occasion may require hereafter.
The police officers of the city of New Ulm are requested to strictly enforce this order by the arrest and prosecution of any and all violators thereof.50
Dated February 4, A.D. 1920 J.H. Vogel, Health Officer------------------------------------------------------------------
The New Ulm Board of Health also demanded thirty minutes of ventilation in picture show houses and churches between shows and services to rid the air of airborne viruses. Movies, schools, and churches were not closed at this time, however, if the flu epidemic continued, they would be the next to close.51
A notice was put on the entrances to locations where flu existed:
Influenza exists on these premises. All persons except for attending physicians are forbidden to go into or away from this house or to carry anything away from this house without the permission of the health officer. The occupants of this house will be responsible for the unauthorized removal of this card.52
Once again, people were warned to take precautions against catching this flu.
February 14, 1920
The health board continued the ban of public and private meetings, and added to the list movie theatres. Church services were to be kept to a minimum.53
February 20, 1920
The closed period ended on this date, totaling two weeks, compared to the seven weeks of 1918. Public gatherings were permitted, and the number of influenza cases were subsiding. The total duration of the influenza outbreak was 5 weeks, and hundreds of cases were reported during this time. No deaths occurred in 1919/20 from this flu outbreak. As with the influenza pandemic of 1918-19, the epidemic covered all portions of the state.54
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