Press Alt + R to read the document text or Alt + P to download or print.

No preview available

The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2014 Issue 4 - Pandemic 1918Furry Friends upcoming exhibit at RHM. President’s Report by Stefanie McIrvin, President. RenTeens’ Report by Cassie, Oscar & Jenny Museum Report by Elizabeth P. Stewart, Director. FORWARD As Americans try to make sense of a few cases of Ebola virus coming to our shores, it seemed like a good time to revisit the most significant epidemic ever to hit our city. At the end of World War I, Americans watched with dread as Spanish influenza swept across the globe. Before it was finished the Spanish flu claimed an estimated 21 million lives. The virus reached the West Coast by autumn 1918, and Renton was not immune from either the dread or the deaths. The 1918-1919 flu pandemic reminded Rentonites that their quiet city was inextricably linked to the wider world. In late summer 1918 Americans watched as Spanish influenza spread from troop camps to their hometowns; the virus was so- named because the neutral country’s lack of wartime censorship meant that Spanish newspapers were the first to openly talk about the horror of the virus.1 In September 1918, the Seattle Daily Times told readers that “the odd feature of this European pandemic makes it necessary for Americans to understand about it and to be prepared for its advent and near invasion over here.”2 The “odd feature” of this particular flu was that the usually mild virus—with its fever, body aches, chest and sinus congestion—turned to death Also In This Issue... RENTON HISTORICALSOCIETY & MUSEUM Winter December 2014 Volume 45 Number 4 Continued on page 5 2 4 83 Captain Burrows Summer and Winter Pleasure Resort, view looking north into Lake Washington, ca. 1900- 1910. (RHM# 1990.085.3048) tv QUARTERLY PANDEMIC 1918! by Elizabeth P. Stewart 2 | R E NTON H ISTORY MUSEUM FURRY FRIENDS: FROM FADS TO FA MILY From F EBRUARY 17 To AUgUST 2 9 MOURNINg THE LOSS OF COUNCILMEMBER TERRI (M ATHEWSON ) BR IERE (1951-2014) The staff and Board of the Renton History Museum are very sad to note the death of Councilmember Terri Briere on November 9, 2014. Councilmember Briere was one of Renton history’s strongest supporters; among her many accomplishments were chairing the Renton High School Centennial Committee and spearheading the effort to rescue and restore the Roxy Theatre sign when the theatre was sold. As Councilmember, Terri served as the City Liaison to the Renton Historical Society Board of Trustees. A lifetime resident of Renton, Terri and her husband Bill owned Briere and Associates, a general contracting firm that was very generous in helping with the renovation of our offsite storage building. Her husband Bill, who passed away in August, was also a key member of the team planning for the renovation of the museum lobby. Terri was always interested in the preservation of Renton’s historic places, Long before YouTube and Instagram made pet images an inescapable part of today’s pop culture, Renton’s inhabitants were posing with pets of their own, sometimes in hilarious fashion. This lighthearted exhibit celebrates the familial connections between people and their furry best friends and explores the human fascination with capturing our pets’ antics on camera. The exhibit will feature a large selection of photographs from the Museum’s collection along with a late 19th Century mock-photo studio setting. Bring your well-behaved Fido and Fluff and snap your own “historic” pet photo! but at the same time as a Councilperson she recognized the need to move forward and make room for major investments by The Landing, the Federal Reserve, and the Seahawks organization. She will be much missed by everyone whose lives she touched, but she has left a legacy that will continue on. Top: Terri Briere, RHS Class of 1969; Bottom: Councilmember Briere receives the Custer Award for Heritage Citizenship in June 2008. MARCH 19 5:30 pm Come see Internet cat video superstar Will Braden, creator of Henri, le Chat Noir! Using clips of historic videos, Will shows us that the fascination with filming our pets certainly is not new. W INTER Q U ARTERLY , 2014 | 3 MUSEUM REPORT QUARTERLY Winter 2014 Elizabeth P. Stewart Director Many of you will have no idea what the Renton History Museum staff spends its time doing to meet our mission of documenting, preserving, interpreting, and educating about Renton’s history. This past week was a great example, so I present to you a week in the life of a museum: • Visitor Experience Coordinator Colleen Lenahan oversaw our last program for Newcastle: Little Giant of the Eastside on Thursday, as Newcastle Historical Society member Mike Intelkofer shared Milt Swanson’s collection and his own considerable knowledge about mining tools and processes. (EDUCATING) • Colleen moved on to research and preparations for our next exhibit, Furry Friends: From Fads to Family, opening in February. (INTERPRETING and EDUCATING) • Colleen worked with the RenTeens, our teen advisory council, to identify their goals for the coming year. (EDUCATING) • Volunteer (and former intern) Ellie DiPietro built acid-free boxes for objects. (PRESERVING) • Collection Manager Sarah Samson supervised UW intern Brianne Baird, as she researched our collection of Duwamish artifacts. (DOCUMENTING and PRESERVING) • Sarah taught a UW Museology Program Preservation and Management of Collections History Lab to students who are researching objects in our collection as they learn. (DOCUMENTING and PRESERVING) • Sarah oversaw our regular Collections volunteers Jessica Kelly and Pearl Jacobson as they work on cataloguing archives materials and artifacts. (DOCUMENTING and PRESERVING) • I researched and wrote this quarterly newsletter feature, “Pandemic 1918!” by combing through death records, newspapers, hospital records, diaries, and oral histories, with Sarah’s help. (DOCUMENTING and EDUCATING) • I also gave a talk to residents of the Renton Rehabilitation Center about the Duwamish people. (EDUCATING) • We all helped researchers with questions about genealogy, Wiley Post’s last trip out of Renton Airport, floods in Renton, and the Chief Seattle fountain. (EDUCATING) And this doesn’t even include all the work Museum Office Aide Laurie Lent does to keep the Museum’s mission moving forward smoothly: processing memberships and donations, proofreading the newsletter, preparing bills for payment, answering phones, and, most importantly, greeting visitors. As you can see, every week we are focused on Renton’s heritage, caring for it and telling other people about it. It is never dull and it is our passion! by Elizabeth P. Stewart, Museum Director Speaker Mike Intelkofer shows us the bright light produced by a carbide mining lamp. RENTON HISTORICAL QUARTERLY Sarah Samson Graphic Design & Layout Karl Hurst City of Renton Print & Mail Services RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Stefanie McIrvin, President Meris Mullaley, Vice President Laura Clawson, Treasurer Elizabeth P. Stewart, Secretary Susie Bressan, 2015 Sandra Meyer, 2015 Alice Stenstrom, 2016 Lisa Wivag, 2016 Theresa Clymer, 2017 Kim Sweet, 2017 Vicki Jo Utterstrom, 2017 MUSEUM STAFF Elizabeth P. Stewart Museum Director Sarah Samson Collection Manager Colleen Lenahan Visitor Experience Coordinator Laurie Lent Office Aide Pearl Jacobson Volunteer Registrar RENTON HISTORY MUSEUM 235 MILL AVE. S RENTON, WA 98057 P (425) 255-2330 F (425) 255-1570 HOURS: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm ADMISSION: $3 (Adult) $1 (Child)Intern Brianne Baird with some of the Museum’s Duwamish baskets and other artifacts. Volunteer Ellie DiPietro building an acid-free box to house hat pins. 4 | R ENTON H I STORY MU SEUM The last quarter has really flown by! Fall is generally one of our most busy times of the year, with our Finance Committee in the full swing of budget planning for next fiscal year and the Board keeping up with other important housekeeping items. October was especially busy for us, with Museum staff and Trustees focusing on planning and executing our seventh annual dinner and silent auction. The auction went off without a hitch and we were very pleased to see so many of you—our members, volunteers, and donors—there to show your support of the Renton History Museum! In total we raised just over $8,600 and sold over 60 different auction items. This was the first year that the Board decided to include a dessert dash, in addition to our traditional silent auction and raise the paddle event. The dessert dash was a huge success and made the event very festive and fun! A huge thank you to Apogee Catering, who cooked the delicious catered buffet, and to Jazz Horn, who provided the musical entertainment. City Councilmember Ed Price contributed his upbeat energy and competitive auctioneering skills. Thank you, Ed, for emceeing! Our new teen advisory council, the RenTeens, was on hand to talk about their experiences at the Museum—thank you, Oscar Locke, Jenny Loo, and Cassie Dozier, for sharing your perspective on Renton’s history. Thanks also to Hazen High School’s Honors Society students for assisting with our auction, Renton Youth Services for assisting with the dinner service, Service Linen Supply for donating the linens for the dinner, and to Patricia Carroll for volunteering her bartending talents. We are grateful to all of our volunteers for donating their time and talents! I also want to recognize the Museum staff for all their hard work on this event. Elizabeth Stewart, Sarah Samson, Colleen Lenahan, and Laurie Lent are without a doubt an amazing team and the Board simply could not pull off the dinner auction without them. Our Fundraising and Events Committee, comprised of Susie Bressan, Theresa Clymer, Vicki Utterstrom and Lisa Wivag, also deserve a round of applause for their planning talents and dedication to this event. Thank you, ladies! In the next few weeks you will be receiving your membership renewal reminder from us. We hope you’ll continue to support the Museum and maybe even consider giving the gift of membership to someone you love over the holidays! Your support enables us to continue our mission of documenting, preserving, and interpreting Renton’s history for future generations—thanks for all you do! Stefanie McIrvin President UPCOMINg EVENTS RAP 101: THE MESSAgE BEHIND THE MUSIC February 19 5:30-7:00pm Join “Professor E,” for a conversation exploring contemporary popular culture, diversity issues, and social justice through the lyrics of popular rap music. RenTeens Cassie Dozier, Jenny Loo, and Oscar Locke. A packed house enjoys the dinner and silent auction. gLOBAL HEAT: HIP HOP SOUL MUSIC AND DANCE February 28 1:00-2:30pm Enjoy Global Heat’s free-style rap and join a discussion about the history of hip hop dance and its origins in traditional African and Brazilian dance and martial arts. FIRST SCULPTOR OF SEATTLE: THE LIFE & ART OF JAMES A. WEHN March 5 7:00-8:00pm Author and art historian Fred Poyner IV discusses his recent biography about Seattle sculptor James A. Wehn, the creator of the Chief Seattle fountain. PRESIDENT’S MESSAgE by Stefanie McIrvin, President W I NTER Q U ARTERLY , 2014 | 5 by pneumonia for a much higher percentage of its sufferers than the typical “grippe” or summer flu. By late September 1918 Spanish flu had been reported in two-thirds of all U.S. Army camps, with a worrying increase in deaths among young recruits before they had even left to fight.3 Health officials in Seattle and other Washington cities watched East Coast precautions as they waited for the flu to reach the West Coast. Young Charlie Tamborini witnessed firsthand the virus’s devastation in Philadelphia when his ship, the U.S.S. Folger, put into port in late September. “Arrived in a rather bad time,” Tamborini noted in his diary. “The Spanish influenza is scattered all over town. Hundreds taking down with it and many dying.”4 Philadelphia was one of the hardest hit Eastern cities. In early October the Washington State Board of Health began requiring physicians to report all cases of Spanish influenza. On October 7 only six Washington counties reported cases of Spanish influenza; three days later flu had been reported in every county. Seattle Health Commissioner J. S. McBride began a campaign of public education about preventing the spread of the disease, asking sufferers to quarantine themselves at home where they could be tended by relatives.5 Advice to flu sufferers was to “go home at once and go to bed.”6 Public health officials advised family members how Continued from page 1 Cover: Renton Hospital, 1933. Influenza sufferers were advised to stay at home as long as they could, but those without families had to resort to the hospital. At least 32 Rentonites received inpatient treatment at the hospital during the outbreak. (RHM# 1997.080.7892) PANDEMIC 1918! Reese Williams (3rd from right) and James A. Tonkin (far right) in happier days, ca. 1908. Both would die of Spanish influenza in 1918. Charlie Tamborini (far left) would witness flu’s devastation in Philadelphia as a young sailor. (RHM # 1967.007.0659) 6 | RE NTON H ISTORY M USEUM to care for their loved ones—“wear a wrapper, apron or gown over the ordinary house clothes while in the sick room”—and assumed that doctors would make occasional house calls; serious cases with the means to do so could hire nurses.7 Anne Marie Rossman’s whole family became ill, and her uncles moved in to help care for them. John W. Dobson remembered later that his father administered a spoonful of whisky to his kids every night to keep away the flu.8 Young bride Jessie Tulloch and her family had the flu, but went to the San Juan Islands anyway on a planned hunting trip. When they returned, they found that “Seattle had gone wild about the flu.”9 People were advised to avoid large public gatherings. Civic and fraternal groups temporarily suspended their meetings. Seattle banned large public weddings, requesting that couples be married in private ceremonies with immediate family only. Anti-spitting rules were put in place in all public areas. “Every window in the streetcars was nailed open,” she recalled. “And you had to wear these masks on your face… And the rain was coming in, you were getting soaking wet before you got home.” She questioned the public health precautions, but everyone in her family recovered. “It’s a wonder you didn’t die out from the way they were trying to keep you alive,” Jessie observed.10 Spanish influenza hit at a very inauspicious time. “The Instructions on mask-wearing. (Renton Bulletin, 15 Nov. 1918, p.2) Dr. Adolph Bronson (back row, second from right) and Renton Hospital staff, 1915. Nurses were vital to helping Renton’s two doctors treat flu sufferers, yet were unrecorded. (RHM# 2000.127.8644) WI NTER QUARTERLY, 2014 | 7 War to End All Wars” was drawing to a close. As Austria-Hungary requested an armistice, Rentonite Florence Guitteau observed, “in all our land schools[,] churches, theatres, lodges[,] clubhouses, pool rooms, etc are closed—all gatherings forbidden—and people instructed to keep children at home and to go about as little as possible.”11 By Armistice Day, the children of Renton and Seattle had already been out of school for six weeks. At war’s end public health officials worried that nationwide celebrations might result in a new outbreak of disease. By mid-October the Renton Bulletin noted, “we are unable to chronicle all those who are down with the Spanish influenza.”12 Renton physicians Adolph Bronson and Charles L. Dixon attended to the ill in their homes and at the Renton Hospital. The Bulletin pronounced Dr. Dixon “the busiest man in Renton.” Somehow he was able to obtain one hundred doses of serum for the prevention of the flu, at a time when it was very difficult to get.13 Dr. Bronson’s call book and hospital admission book also demonstrated that the Spanish influenza hit Renton hard in October and early November. Those dire cases that ended up at Renton Hospital were often single men—miners or loggers—with no one to care for them. Most of the twenty-two people who were admitted to Renton Hospital in October and November 1918 recovered, however. Most were men in their twenties and thirties, and probably at the peak of their health. Twenty-six-year-old Reese Williams was probably the first Spanish influenza casualty among Rentonites, although he died in a U.S. Naval Hospital in Panama City, Florida on September 23. The son of coal miner David S. Williams and his wife Sarah, Reese had been working as a machinist in Bremerton when the U.S. joined WWI, and he immediately enlisted in the Navy. He was a First Class Machinist on the U.S.S. Tallahassee when he caught the flu and died.14 A few of the early sufferers in Renton also did not make it. Thirty-year-old Ed Zilli was a miner and a farmer, but his real love was music. He died in October 1918, leaving behind a young wife Armida Pistoresi Zilli and newborn daughter Marina. James A. Tonkin was a member of a prominent Renton family; his father William was Mayor of Renton at the time. When the war started, thirty-four-year-old James took a job as a shipyard worker at Ames Shipbuilding in Seattle.15 On October 15 Florence Guitteau’s sister Lucy saw him walk into Renton Hospital, suffering from Spanish influenza; “[he] died before 8 this morning,” Florence wrote in her diary on October 16.16 Because these men and women died in the prime of life, many left children who would never know their fathers. Carpenter Continued on page 10 Ed Zilli (front row, far right) and his brother Ciro “Charles” (front row, 2nd from right) immigrated to the U.S. in 1906; by 1918, Ed had died of influenza. (RHM # 41.0003) 8 | R E NTON H ISTORY MUSEUM We are the Renton History Museum Youth Advisory Council. We started earlier this year to have teens more involved in history and our community. In the beginning, some of us began as volunteers and other people joined later. Currently we are doing a blog called “Invisible Places” on Tumblr to increase awareness of the hidden historical sites of Renton (found at renteens.tumblr.com). We are thrilled to be a part of an amazing group of individuals who have inspired us to be better people. We will continue to do this because it is our legacy. Our future goals are to increase awareness of the Renton History Museum, have our own exhibit, and to be more involved with Renton School District and the community. Also, we want to improve how society looks at teenagers. “My own personal experience with this museum has been overall well. I started late 2013 by finding volunteer opportunities online at the museum just to gain a few volunteer hours for my health class. After being a Greeter for a few weeks I learned of a new group being started at the Museum and I decided to go to the first meeting; I have found it to be very interesting, so I stayed. In the end I have improved my communication skills and I have learned more about the city I now live in and how it began.” -Oscar Locke RENTEENS’ REPORT by Cassie Dozier, Oscar Locke & Jenny Loo RenTeens researching collection items for their Tumblr blog. “In my freshman year in high school we had to volunteer 10 hours for a project in Health. My grandma suggested I volunteer down at the Museum because of my love of history. Since I began working I have loved it and will continue doing it until I graduate high school. The council has taught me to communicate better and has given me a love of helping my community.” -Cassie Dozier “The way the museum and RenTeens has affected me is by making me more aware of my community and the amazement of how people interact with each other. I found it through Mr. Smith, my Language Arts teacher, who collaborated with the museum 4 years in a row. I needed a way to be entertained by history more and it has helped me to reach out to people by making an impression on someone even if it is a small one.” -Jenny Loo Right now, we are planning our project for the 2014- 2015 school year. We are considering a variety of topics, such as downtown vs. the Landing, diversities of schools, and many more ideas. We will keep you updated as we make more decisions about what we want to accomplish this year. RenTeens Cassie Dozier, Oscar Locke and Jenny Loo at the Museum.RenTeens speaking at the Renton Historical Society dinner auction. WI NTER Q UARTERLY, 2014 | 9 MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS August 16, 2014 - November 15, 2014 Ellard Bartlett Wendell & Cleo Forgaard Kathleen DuBois Bohm Hazelle DuBois Nancy Brenden Wendell & Cleo Forgaard Terri Briere greg & Carrie Bergquist William (Bill) Briere Lee & Judy Baker Jim & Kelly Beymer Larry & Rosemary Brester Ben & geri Bush Nancy Carlson Randy & Cathy Corman Don & Loraine Custer Jay & Sheri Covington Denny & Bernie Dochnahl Wendell & Cleo Forgaard Terry & Dennis Higashiyama Steve & Carla Hoffman Marcie Maxwell Kevin & Teresa Milosevich King Parker Mark & Kelly Peterson Renton Fire Department Alumni Association Joe & Loretta Starkovich Elizabeth Stewart george & Sue Terhaar Chip & Carla Vincent Larry & Velma Warren Mutt & Tammy Willet James P. Burch Helen D. Burch Helen Burch Helen D. Burch Virginia Shook Busato Hazelle DuBois William (Bill) Byers Wendell & Cleo Forgaard Richard & Judith Lucotch Tim Chinn Hazelle DuBois Robert (Bob) Ciotta Janet & Bill Belmondo Mario & Victor Tonda Robert & gilda Youngquist Don (Buzz) Dana John & Marsha Nissen Charles B. DuBois Hazelle DuBois Elizabeth Swales DuBois Hazelle DuBois Rena Ellis Mary Sutter gloria ga mba Elizabeth P. Stewart Nona M. ga rrison Wendell & Cleo Forgaard Myron “Mike” Leo Hackman greg & Carrie Bergquist Jack D. Holt Mary M. Sutter & Family Keith Lankester Janet & Bill Belmondo Melloy J. Larson Wendell & Cleo Forgaard Elaine Maas Sharon & Ron Clymer Jennette (Culjak) McCurdy Wendell & Cleo Forgaard Patrick M. McLendon Wendell & Cleo Forgaard Tony Mola Wendell & Cleo Forgaard Marie F. Myers greg & Carrie Bergquist Edward L. Nilson greg & Carrie Bergquist Herman M. Nirschl Wendell & Cleo Forgaard Shirley Brooks Patterson Richard & Judith Lucotch Betty Sipila Robert & gilda Youngquist gladys L. Pierotti Wendell & Cleo Forgaard Michele grace Salvatore Wendell & Cleo Forgaard Barbara Mercia Stevens Steve Sellers Theodore F. Stevens Steve Sellers Richard Stredicke Wendell & Cleo Forgaard Richard & Judith Lucotch Bob Wicks Richard & Judith Lucotch MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF $100 OR MORE William (Bill) Briere Doug & Sonja Kyes Craig Magaw & Richard Holdway Esther Kooiman & Family Denis & Patty Law Jerry & Bonnie Rerecich Mark & Barbara Santos-Johnson Iwen Wang Leigh Anne Weller gregg & Marianna Zimmerman Keith Lankester ga ry & Lorraine Myers, Don & Shirley Lindberg Patrick (Pat) McLendon Don & Pearl Jacobson gENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS Brent & Laurie Beden Jim & Kelly Beymer Sandra Burkey Wanda Capellaro Agnes Ciotta Dan & Laura Clawson Jeffrey Conner Dennis Conte Denny Dochnahl Carren Donati Jaris English Louise george Merrie Hamlin Daniel Hammes Dan & Elizabeth Hemenway Ila Hemm Interlaken Trailblazers (Sharon Moats) Jean Hobart Karen Jones Lynne King Pauline Kirkman Barbara Mandic Stefanie McIrvin McLendon Hardware (Linda Holmes) Kevin & Norma McQuiller Lisa Miller Lucille Miller Beth & Kevin Mitcham Meris Mullaley Barbara Nilson Ed & Meegan Prince Mark & Barbara Santos-Johnson Andy Sparks Marian Sutton Olympe Toman Rich Zwicker gENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF $100 OR MORE Olga Azzola Jim & Charmaine Baker Paul & Cheryl Baker Harry & Janet Blencoe Dorlene Bressan Theresa & Stephen Clymer Terry Higashiyama Bob & Phyllis Hunt Don & Pearl Jacobson Edgar & Leola Johnston JoAnne Matsumura McCorkle & Associates Sandra Meyer Ray Peretti Sandra Polley Mary Riley Alice Irene Stenstrom greg & Kim Sweet Pam Teal Rich Wagner Iwen Wang IN-KIND DONATIONS Hazen Highlander Chapter of the National Honor Society Renton Youth Council City of Renton Senior Activity Center Service Linen Supply gIFT MEMBERSHIP DONORS Linnie griffin NEW MEMBERS William Kombol Beth & Kevin Mitcham family David Nelson Sally & Joe Steiner Joella (Jody) g. Yoder BENEFACTOR MEMBERS David Thompson PATRON MEMBERS Dan & Elizabeth Hemenway MATCHINg gIFT CONTRIBUTION Microsoft Matching gift Program (matching volunteer hours of Steven Thomas) 10 | R ENTON H I STORY M U SEUM Gus Gustafson died on October 24, 1918, leaving a barely pregnant wife behind. In June 1919 Olga Sipila Gustafson gave birth to their son Grant, only to see him die less than a year later. Edward McCaffrey was only two months old when his father died, leaving his mother to move her young family into her parents’ home on Mill Street.17 Cecelia Major was six years old when her father, John A. Carey Sr., died. He was in Spokane, interviewing for an accounting job with the railroad, when the Armistice that ended WWI was signed. “He went to the Armistice Day Parade,” she remembered. “He came down with the flu and he died in Spokane,” just as public health officials feared.18 By early December the autumn wave of influenza had passed; new cases and deaths in Renton slowed and people began to breathe a sigh of relief. But the respite did not last. The flu roared back and resources were stretched to their limit. When teamsters Gus Bishop and Pete Dullahant came down with the virus, the local paper warned customers that “the other fellows who handle coal will not be able to fill orders fast enough.”19 Teachers were ill and schools stayed closed into January. Dr. Bronson was suffering from his second bout of the virus in late December; by early January he was headed to California to recuperate, leaving Renton with one doctor.20 As deaths began to mount again in January—Pacific Coast Railroad Co. bookkeeper Aaron Edwards, tailor Fred Roschkot, Father Thomas Deere from St. Anthony’s—Dr. Dixon quarantined ill families in their homes.21 Some families were very hard-hit. Fred Elleg, a truck driver for Pacific Car & Foundry, died on January 8, 1919, two days before his sister, Louisa Ioppini, died. Brother and sister had a joint funeral at St. Anthony’s Church, sharing pall-bearers. By January 10 grocery-owner Joseph Covey, brother-in-law of Fred and Louisa, was also sick with influenza, as were his pregnant wife Lena Elleg Covey and their two little sons. Fred’s widow Charlotte was also down with the flu. Happily, Charlotte Elleg and the Coveys recovered, and Lena gave birth to Joseph F. Covey in February.22 January 1919 represented the peak of new Spanish flu in Renton, with six or seven cases reported every week. Most of these sufferers recovered, however, and at the end of January the influenza began to release its terrible hold on Renton just as quickly as it had come. Schools finally re-opened on January 27, 1919 and the Renton Bulletin was able to report on January 31 that “the flu epidemic is declining and the ban is off, to the great relief of everybody.”23 The shocking sudden death of City Clerk Grant Bates in February of “acute end[ocarditis] caused by influenza” was a reminder of the flu’s lingering effects, however.24 In four months, seventy Renton residents had suffered from Spanish influenza—or 2% of the population—and twenty- two had died, a 31% death rate. ENDNOTES 1 John M. Barry, The Great Influenza (New York: Penguin Books, 2004, 2009), 171. Influenza cases in this article were compiled from Dr. Adolph Bronson’s Call Book, 1905-1921 (#1988.133.001); Registration Ledger from Renton Hospital, 1911-1922 (#1988.027.240); and 1918 and 1919 editions of Renton Bulletin. 2 Dr. Leonard Keens Hirshberg, “What Spanish Influenza Is,” Seattle Daily Times, 25 September 1918, p.5. 3 “Draft Held Up by Spanish Influenza,” Seattle Daily Times, 27 September 1918, p.2. 4 Charles Tamborini Diary, 30 September 1918 (Collection of the Renton History Museum, #1987.043.002). 5 “State to Follow Closing Orders,” Seattle Daily Times, 7 October 1918, p.4; “Six Deaths from Influenza in Day,” Seattle Daily Times, 10 October 1918, p.14. 6 Uncle Sam’s Advice on Flu,” Renton Bulletin, 27 October 1918, p.1. 7 “Uncle Sam’s Advice on Flu,” Renton Bulletin, 27 October 1918, p.1. 8 Anne Marie Bressan Rossman Oral History, 24 May 2002, p.2 (Collection of the Renton History Museum); John W. Dobson Oral History, 30 August 1999, p.8 (Collection of the Renton History Museum, #1999.129.003). 9 Jessie Tulloch Oral History, 11 October 1987, p.17 (Collection of the Renton History Museum, #1987.124.006). 10 “Seattle Puts Ban on Big Church Weddings,” Seattle Daily Times, 7 October 1918, p.4; “Masked Against Influenza Spread,” Seattle Daily Times, 10 October 1918, p. 14; “Camp Lewis Men Barred from City,” Seattle Daily Times, 10 October 1918, p.14; “Seattle Ordered to Wear Masks to Prevent Mallady,” Seattle Daily Times, 28 October 1918, p.1; Jessie Tulloch Oral History, 11 October 1987, p.17 (Collection of the Renton History Museum, #1987.124.006). 11 Florence Guitteau Diary, 16 October 2014, p.94 (Collection of the Renton History Museum, #2014.023.004). Like many Americans, Florence wondered whether the Spanish flu was a deliberate attempt by the Central Powers to weaken the Allies. 12 “Local News,” Renton Bulletin, 18 October 1918, p.3. 13 “Local News,” Renton Bulletin, 18 October 1918, p.3. 14 “A Navy Boy Passed Away,” Renton Bulletin, 11 October 1918, p.1. 15 Under “Deaths,” Renton Bulletin, 18 October 1918, p.1. Other early deaths included Father Ailbe Heelan, pastor at St. Anthony’s Church; twenty-year old Dennis Hogan; and concrete worker Simon M. Simonsen, all reported on 18 October 1918. 16 Florence Guitteau Diary, 16 October 2014, p.94-95 (Collection of the Renton History Museum, #2014.023.004). Other victims in Renton included Gustaf Waldemar Gustafson (24 October 1918), Winifred Kline (24 October 1918), Eric Franz Hyppa (21 November 1918), and John Kollus (27 November 1918). 17 Edward McCaffrey and George Pasco Oral History, 19 January 1989, p.1 (Collection of the Renton History Museum). 18 Cecelia Major Oral History, 1 October 1988, p.2 (Collection of the Renton History Museum). 19 “Local News,” Renton Bulletin, 10 January 1919, p.3. 20 “Local News,” Renton Bulletin, 20 December 1918, p.3; “Local News,” Renton Bulletin, 10 January 1919, p.3. 21 “Deaths,” Renton Bulletin, 20 December 1918, p.1; “Fred Roschkot Has Gone,” Renton Bulletin, 10 January 1919, p.1; “Funerals: Rev. Thos. J. Deere,” Renton Bulletin, 17 January 1919, p.1; “Flu Ban on in Renton,” Renton Bulletin, 17 January 1919, p.3. 22 “Local Notes,” Renton Bulletin, 10 January 1919, p.3; “Brother and Sister Fred Elleg and Mrs. Ioppini,” Renton Bulletin, 17 January 1919, p.1. 23 “Local News,” Renton Bulletin, 24 January 1919, p.3; “Local News” Renton Bulletin, 31 January 1919, p.3. 24 Dr. Bronson’s Call Book, 8 February 1919, p.63; “Funeral of City Clerk Grant Bates Was Held at M. E. Church Last Tuesday,” Renton Bulletin, 14 February 1919, p.1. Dr. Charles L. Dixon (right) and Jack Harries in Renton Hospital, ca. 1920. (RHM# 2000.127.8609) W I NTER Q U ARTERLY , 2014 | 11 P et Photo Contest: Here’s your chance to be featured in an upcoming exhibit! The Museum invites you to submit photos of you with your pets to be considered for display in our upcoming Furry Friends exhibit. Here’s how to enter: 1. Check our Facebook page for a selection of photos of historic Rentonites with their dogs, cats, and other animal companions. 2. Select a photo and recreate it with your furry friends. 3. Submit the digital photo file to the Museum by January 15, 2015 (nothing smaller than 1 MB). Your photo may be one of a select few featured in the exhibit alongside their historical inspiration! Renton Historical Society 235 Mill Avenue South Renton, WA 98057 Phone: 425.255.2330 Fax: 425.255.1570 Email: estewart@rentonwa.gov rentonwa.gov/rentonhistorymuseum Renton Historical Society 235 Mill Avenue South Renton, WA 98057 Phone: 425.255.2330 Fax: 425.255.1570 Email: estewart@rentonwa.gov rentonwa.gov/rentonhistorymuseum MEMBERSHIP FORM Please select a membership level: Individual $30 Student/Senior $20 Family $40 Benefactor $75 Patron $150 Business/Corporate $175 Life membership $750 Basic memberships Sustaining memberships Name: Address: Phone: Payment information Visa or MC #: Exp. date: Signature: Please make checks payable to the Renton Historical Society. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation! Your donations help us provide new exhibits and exciting programs. Donation: $ F U RRY F R IENDS P E T P HOTO C ONTEST Deadline for submissions JANUARY 15 RENTON HISTORY MUSEUM 235 Mill Ave. S Renton, WA 98057 IN HINDSIgHT... Holiday postcard mailed from Bremerton to Mattie (Thompson) Jennings, 1920. (RHM# 1981.111.019)