This Week in Indianapolis 1917-1919

MCHS

THIS WEEK IN INDIANAPOLIS

1921

news stories & adverts from one hundred years ago

Truce Doesn't End Motor Corps Work

Dec 26, 2018

Truce Doesn't End Motor Corps Work

From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, December 25: One of the most important army and navy department auxiliaries is the Red Cross Motor Corps, and it’s one of the few organizations whose work has intensified since the Armistice. The influenza epidemic kept the women of the Indianapolis Red Cross Motor Corps busy night and day rapidly transferring the scarce supply of nurses from one case to another. Last month’s Public Health Nursing Association report showed the transpo

Nov 19, 2018

Health Board Orders Masks

From The Indianapolis News, Monday, November 18: The Indianapolis board of health has ordered the universal wearing of gauze masks following a renewal of the influenza epidemic. The order is effective immediately. Since Saturday, 582 new cases have been reported in the city with eleven deaths during the period. Board secretary Dr. Henry Morgan cautioned, “During the recent celebrations, people forgot to take care of themselves and their resistance became lowered. Avoid c

Halloween Frolic Not Entirely Ruled Out

Oct 31, 2018

Halloween Frolic Not Entirely Ruled Out

From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, October 31: With the gradual decrease in influenza cases, the Indianapolis board of health has lifted the ban on meetings and other activities just in time for ghosts, witches, goblins, and other weird figures to once again make their annual swoop along the city’s streets and gather in the glow of Jack o’ lanterns at house parties tonight in celebration of Halloween. Health officials, however, are discouraging the usual congregating of

Shortage of Nurses Handicaps Flu Fight

Oct 22, 2018

Shortage of Nurses Handicaps Flu Fight

From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, October 22: Following emergency calls for aid from several Indiana counties where the influenza death rate approaches one in every 200 residents, Captain William King, assistant secretary of the state board of health, declared the most serious aspect of the influenza epidemic in Indiana is the lack of trained nurses. Relief in this connection was assured yesterday with the announcement that the Red Cross will establish a state nurses’ cl

Oct 18, 2018

Ban on Influenza Holds Until Oct. 26

From The Indianapolis News, Friday, October 18: Because of the “continued prevalence of the influenza epidemic,” the state-wide ban on all public gatherings will continue until October 26. The Indianapolis board of health established an opening time of 9:45 a.m. and a closing time of 6:15 p.m. for all retail stores in the Indianapolis downtown district, except groceries and drugstores, to reduce crowded conditions in the stores. Health officials have warned that the influe

Oct 7, 2018

French Heroes March in Indianapolis Streets

From The Indianapolis News, Monday, October 7: Clad in olive tinged khaki and carrying shouldered rifles with long bayonets flashing in the sun, a detachment of the French Foreign Legion, led by a mounted police escort and the Indianapolis Newsboys’ Band, marched through Indianapolis downtown streets this afternoon amid the tri-colors of France, the colors of the United States, and the applause of thousands of onlookers along the parade route. Earlier in the day, the legion

Epidemic Closes Public Places in City and State

Oct 7, 2018

Epidemic Closes Public Places in City and State

From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, October 7: As a preventative measure, the city board of health yesterday afternoon ordered all Indianapolis schools, churches, theaters, and motion picture houses closed for an indefinite time in order to control the influenza epidemic. Public gatherings, except for small committee meetings, are also banned. There are 200 reported cases of influenza in the city and four reported deaths from the disease. Dr. Herman G. Morgan, secretary o

Protective Steps Taken by Mayor

Sep 27, 2018

Protective Steps Taken by Mayor

From The Indianapolis News, Friday, September 27: Mayor Charles Jewett has taken steps to prevent a Spanish influenza epidemic in Indianapolis. He has directed Dr. Herman Morgan of the city board of health to order the fumigation and cleansing of all public places - hotel lobbies, theaters, railway stations and street cars. The Mayor has also directed the chief of police to rigidly enforce the ordinance against spitting on the sidewalks and in street cars. “Fortunately, I

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