bjgreen
There was no daily Mass at the mission in Santa Barbara for the first time ever. (Image: Santa Barbara Mission, John J. Bodkin, 1910)
By Betsy J. Green
There were more than 50(!) articles in the local papers in October 1918 about the flu. Up until October 13, the paper announced that while some people here had colds or mild flu symptoms, these were not considered to be the deadly type of disease.
Everything changed on October 14 with the large headline, “‘Flu’ Invades Santa Barbara; Schools, Movies, Other Public Gathering Places May Close.” The subhead continued, “Fifty Cases, Five Serious Ones, Already Reported in City.” Meetings were cancelled or postponed, and the schools and churches closed.
My next Way Back When book — 1918 — will be available in local bookstores in November, and at Amazon.com. This will be the fifth book in my series of the history of Santa Barbara, one year at a time.
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