1918 Spanish Flu’s Impact on Manitowoc County

With the coronavirus pandemic currently impacting our country, it seemed appropriate to discuss another illness which spread throughout the country and Manitowoc County over one hundred years ago, the Spanish flu or influenza.

During the latter part of the year 1918, residents of Manitowoc County were frightened by an illness raging throughout the country and the world, the Spanish influenza. From October through December 1918, Manitowoc County would lose over one hundred people to the illness. Residents were quarantined to their houses, very similar to what is being done today with the coronavirus, schools were closed, and events were cancelled.

Before the illness hit Manitowoc County hard, physicians were letting the public know the worst thing they could do is fear the illness. In a Manitowoc Daily Herald article from September 25, 1918 a local physician warned residents “don’t fear influenza.” He went on to say that “fear will do more to make you a victim than anything else.” He much like physicians today urged residents to take care of themselves if they feel sick. According to him, going to your house, snuggling in your bed, and calling your physician were the best way to combat this “old disease with a new name”.

Once the illness did start to spread throughout Manitowoc County establishments and local leaders tried to control it. In early October 1918, the health board of the city of Manitowoc ordered schools, theaters and churches closed for one week. It was noted though that these closings could be extended, which they did end up being. After one week with no improvement the city extended the closures for another week and included saloons, confectionery stores, billiard halls and other non-essential businesses, hoping some way to get a handle on the illness.

Rural communities in Manitowoc County also tried to stop the virus but perhaps too late. In December 1918, well into the worst stretch of the virus, local officials in Newton put out a list of regulations for residents.  Residents who had the illness were told to stay put in their homes and have a red card displayed in a conspicuous place. Until the house had been clear of fever for four days then could the place card be removed. Also, after the house was influenza free it was to be aired and cleaned. The regulations went on to say that people who think they have influenza or doctors who suspect a case need to report it to a local health official within twenty-four hours. Anyone who did not obey these regulations were to be punished by jail time or a fine.     

A Manitowoc Herald News article from February 10th, 1919 informed residents of Manitowoc County that the county ranked eleventh in the state for deaths during the Spanish influenza rampage in late 1918. The article lists a total of 128 people from Manitowoc County died during the months of October through December. Statewide there were over 40,000 cases of influenza reported during those three months. In total the Spanish influenza epidemic would claim the lives of over 7,200 people in Wisconsin.