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 crowds. The safest place is in the home or in the open air.” The mask-wearing order applies to all attending public meetings, to employees in business houses and offices, to theater and church goers, to factory workers, and street cars riders. Barbers and dentists must wear masks. All city schools will close tomorrow and remain closed until further notice. Police and health inspectors will enforce the order.

“Health Board Orders Masks,” The Indianapolis News, 18 November 1918, p. 1:8

#onehundredyearsago #influenzaepidemic #SpanishFlu #publichealth #BoardofHealth #crowds #masks #publicschools

Indianapolis Sets New Joy Record

From The Indianapolis News, Monday, November 11: “Let us all stop and celebrate the triumph of our just cause” was Gov. Goodrich’s call to Hoosiers with the announcement in this morning’s headlines, “Germany Surrenders!” By 8:00 a.m. throngs of happy citizens were marching around Monument Circle singing, shouting, and making merry with every noisemaking device available - cans-pans-bells-whistles- horns. Thousands of workers poured out of factories and railroad shops joining thousands of zealous downtown store employees in a mass of humanity on the city streets. The public schools dismissed pupils at noon. Last week’s premature celebration was a mere dress rehearsal for today’s spirit of high carnival and whizzbanger of hours’ and hours of record joy in Indianapolis. Celebrations continued into the evening with people packing the Circle singing and applauding each time a flag of the Allies was displayed.

“Indianapolis Sets New Joy Record,” The Indianapolis News, 11 November 1918, p. 1:3

#worldwarone #armistice #joy #celebration #surrender #singing #MonumentCircle

Evening Schools Open With Good Attendance

From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, November 9: Good attendance has been reported in the evening classes offered at six black elementary schools. The courses are the same as in previous years - academic, sewing, manual training, millinery, shoe repairing, and special classes in civil service. Evening school work is in keeping with the industrial opportunities that have opened to black people in recent years with attention on increasing wage-earning capacity of those who take advantage of the class offerings. One purpose of the evening school is to provide an opportunity for boys and girls who have dropped out of school to return and complete regular eighth grade work and receive their diploma. Night schools also offer an opportunity to young men and women and older persons who have come to Indianapolis from other places where they had limited educational opportunities.

“Evening Schools Open With Good Attendance,” The Indianapolis News, 9 November 1918, p. 9:4

Advertisement:

#onehundredyearsago #africanamercans #publicschools #nightschool #industrialopportunities #education