Comments on: 1918: Spanish Influenza invades Massachusetts

By: Denise Jones

Denise Jones — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 22:28:13 +0000

Thank you for sharing information about the 1918 influenza epidemic.
My grandfather owned Chenette’s Pharmacy in Indian Orchard, MA from 1904 to 1918. He was a pharmacist himself when he died of influenza leaving behind my grandmother and my father, who was 5 years old.

I’ve been trying to find out more information about this.

By: Forgotten New England

Forgotten New England — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:40:11 +0000

Hi David, you've suspected correctly. According to a volume of Nursing World dating from 1918, "During the Spanish Influenza epidemic in Waltham, the Waltham Training School for Nurses has served as headquarters for all the activities aimed to combat the disease, the authorities at the city hall having at an early stage turned matters wholly over to the school." The issue of Nursing World containing this excerpt and more information can be found here. Hope this helps! Best of luck with the project.

By: David Bartlett

David Bartlett — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:07:49 +0000

In the school year of 1917-1918 my grandmother was a nursing student at the Waltham Training School For Nurses. Before she died, my aunt Anna told me that my great grandfather pulled my grandmother out of nursing school out of fear she would get sick and die. Your article here has greatly sharpened the focus on this timeline for my family history project, especially the mention that tents were set up in Waltham. I suspect now that the nursing school was probably involved in caring for victims in Waltham and would be greatful if anyone could confirm this.

By: Karen K

Karen K — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:26:44 +0000

Your entries never fail to be fascinating, Ryan. I had no Idea until now that there were tents like this.

The influenza epidemic actually was a large reason why WWI ended.