Published July 2020
BY BRIAN SCHMIT
Guest Writer
“The twenty-four hours ending yesterday morning were the worst so far since the epidemic became of force here, and in the wake of the day’s sickness 18 persons were left dead while 712 new cases were reported.”
Tampa Tribune, October 19, 1918
It’s been over a hundred years since the world has seen a pandemic as devastating as the Spanish Flu. Although the two pandemics shared some similarities, they also had some contrasts.
The Spanish Flu was far more devastating in the number of lives lost. Nearly 675,000 American died from the Flu which was 6.4% of the population.
As of this writing, COVID-19 has accounted for more than 120,000 American deaths or .03% of the population. The effects of Spanish Flu in Florida were far less in 1918, with about 4,000 people dying. Today, as the third-most
populated state, Florida is already coming close to that number of deaths.
Economically the opposite effect has taken place. Today’s American economy has fallen into a recession largely due to the country taking precautions with a stay-at-home policy. In 1918, people didn’t have that luxury.
World War I was still raging and the country had to keep the war machine supplied. There was also no government help available, so people didn’t have much of a choice other than to work to keep their families fed.
Professional and collegiate sports continued to be played during the Spanish Flu. Both the players and spectators were required to wear masks. Baseball continued to be played on the field behind the defunct Sass Hotel on Orange Lake.
Florida communities were often suspicious of travelers bringing the virus into town, often greeting them at the train station with health questions at gunpoint.
We only have one copy of the Port Richey Press from 1918 at the
historical society. In that copy, there is mention that New Port Richey Postmaster Gerben DeVries’s sister died of the virus in Michigan and that he would not be making his annual trip back to his home state.
Much like today, people in 1918 resorted to home remedies to fight off the virus. When Babe Ruth got the virus, he was treated with silver nitrate which nearly killed him. Turpentine was one of the leading products manufactured in New Port Richey and Hudson during this time and the Tampa Times reported that turpentine was being used by some as a disinfectant.
There was also a real shortage of nurses during the Spanish Flu. A call for 500 women to help the cause was printed in the Tampa Tribune.
While the Spanish Flu and COVID-19 happened 100 years apart, history offers a comparative viewpoint to learn from.
Guest writer, Brian Schmit, is the curator of the West Pasco Historical Museum. He is the author of a self-published book, Glory Days: The History of New Port Richey Florida, and a retired history teacher.
Related
To learn more about local history check out the West Pasco Historical Society at www.nprmuseum.org or check out The History of Pasco County at fivay.org.
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