1918 Flu Pandemic in Chicago
Mark Traversino spoke with Rosalie Traversino about her memory of the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak:
"It seems everyone at that time was sick except grandma. Grandpa, Ro, Mary, Angelo and [Lucy Limosani] all had the flu. Angelo was the sickest and they were very concerned. A Dr. Negro who lived across the street from them on Taylor Street came over frequently.
She remembers looking out the window and seeing many hearses driving down the street quite regularly. Our family was quite lucky that we didn't lose anyone.
She said all that grandma used outside of keeping them warm and comfortable and away from everyone, was to use [a compress] of warm cornmeal on their chests.
During that period of all having the flu, the Armistice of November 18, 1918 came about. My mother said she recalls that day vividly. She looked out the window and saw people dancing in the street, celebrating and people burning images of the Kaiser. She said she can still remember it to this day."
***
A video clip from Chicago Tonight, which covered the 1918 flu from the Chicago perspective:
"It seems everyone at that time was sick except grandma. Grandpa, Ro, Mary, Angelo and [Lucy Limosani] all had the flu. Angelo was the sickest and they were very concerned. A Dr. Negro who lived across the street from them on Taylor Street came over frequently.
She remembers looking out the window and seeing many hearses driving down the street quite regularly. Our family was quite lucky that we didn't lose anyone.
She said all that grandma used outside of keeping them warm and comfortable and away from everyone, was to use [a compress] of warm cornmeal on their chests.
During that period of all having the flu, the Armistice of November 18, 1918 came about. My mother said she recalls that day vividly. She looked out the window and saw people dancing in the street, celebrating and people burning images of the Kaiser. She said she can still remember it to this day."
***
A video clip from Chicago Tonight, which covered the 1918 flu from the Chicago perspective:
Comments