By Rit Carter
In the fall of 1918, newspapers focused their reporting on the Great War. But as the troops engaged the Kaiser, a pandemic raged across the United States taking from the Mum City 113 brothers, sisters, friends, husbands, wives, mothers and fathers.
The Connecticut State Department of Health, published a bulletin in April 1919 (Vol. 33 No. 4) stating those most afflicted were between the ages of 20-49.
Among those lost to the pandemic in Bristol include a newlywed, school- aged children, sisters, laborer’s, husbands and a mother of six. Using the limited resources currently at our disposal, here are some of the stories.
Anna Delay
Ms. Delay died on Oct. 11, 1918. She attended local schools and, according to the Hartford Courant, was employed by the New Departure Manufacturing Company in “a responsible position” at the time of her death.
Ruth Bailey
A resident of South Street, Ruth was 27 years old at the time of her death. Born in Waterbury and employed by the F.N. Manross Company, she was taken to Hartford Hospital on October 5and died the next day.
Olivine Scoville
Mrs. Scoville was just 23 in December 1918 and married to Oscar Scoville when she passed away, leaving her husband and two children.
John McLeod
John McLeod was 30 years old and an employee of New Departure. He died in Hartford Hospital and was buried in his home in Milan, P.Q. Canada.
Anna Kaczmarczyk
Forestville resident Anna Kaczmarczyk immigrated to the United States in 1904, eventually settling on Anderson St. with her family. She died at the Parish House of the First Congregational Church on Oct. 27 at the 36 years old, leaving her husband and six kids, including a four-month-old son.
M. Joseph Cawley
Born and raised in Bristol, M. Joseph Cawley was 30 years old and employed in the Purchasing Department at New Departure when he passed away in early October.
Anton Anderson
On Oct. 17 and at the age of 30, Mr. Anderson resided on Willis St. and was president of F.A. Shaffer Company when he perished. Born in Sweden, he was a graduate of the Bristol school system and learned the plumbing trade. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Elks Club, Compounce Tribe I.O.R.M. and the local plumber’s union.
Michael Schinmann
The funeral of Michael Schinmann, a machine operator at New Departure, was held Oct. 16. Mr. Schinmann died after only being sick a week. He was 36 years old and was survived by his wife Marijana, to whom he was married two weeks earlier.
Eva and Doris Benoit
Later that same October day, Eva Benoit, the 7-year-old daughter of Joseph and Augusta Benoit, was laid to rest. A week earlier, her younger sister, 6-year old Doris, died of Spanish influenza as well.
J. George William Lawley
November and December saw a dramatic decrease in cases but the dying did not cease. J. George William Lawley was just 14 and a student at South Side School when he succumbed to influenza on Dec. 13.
Everything however, was not bleak.
Emerging from the sorrow and darkness are stories of heroism.
Lucy Adams, a visiting nurse, cared for the sick in the homes of Bristol residents and the emergency hospital. With the amount of cases dwindling, she would leave a grateful city in early November for war duties in Washington, D.C.
Bristol doctor Benjamin B. Robbins and his wife Edna brought three motherless children into their home to recover during the pandemic. In mid-October, at the pandemic’s height, Sara Robbins, his 87-year-old aunt would perish. Dr. Robbins, a native of Africa, was the city’s health officer for 22 years and, together with his wife, adopted five children.
Synopsis
The Spanish Flu declared war on an opponent that had no means of defending itself. There were no vaccines or antibiotics; only isolation, quarantine, hydration, good personal hygiene and unproven remedies such as Bromo Quinine; a laxative which was inaccurately believed to flush the disease from the body.
Scores of Bristol residents were cut down in their prime and robbed of their future. Mothers and fathers were unable to see their children prosper nor play among the cobblestone buildings at Rockwell Park or enjoy the amenities at Lake Compounce or acquit themselves in the athletic pursuits of the day.
Others missed seeing Babe Ruth at Muzzy Field, the creation of Memorial Boulevard and the commercial and residential development boom in Bristol that would follow in the coming years.
A report issued in June 1920 by the State Department of Health stated the influenza epidemic in Connecticut ran from September 1918 until May 1919, resulting in 115,567 cases and 8,907 deaths. Forty-eight physicians were supplied to Connecticut by the U.S. Health Service with three assigned to Bristol. Bristol also received four nurses from the State Department of Health.
Statistical reports tabulate numeric findings and produce tables and fractional distributions. However, they do not and cannot data capture or quantify the anguish, the grief and the value of the lives lost, nor the suffering of the grieving.
Rit Carter is a Bristol native and contributing editor to the Bristol Edition.
Sourcing:
Two Bristol Deaths from Influenza Hartford Courant Oct. 6 1918 pg. 22
Ohio Doctor in Bristol to Relieve Situation Hartford Courant Oct. 13 1918 pg. 3Z
Questionnaires to Bristol Subjects Hartford Courant Oct. 16 1918 pg. 8
Bristol Druggists See Slacking of Epidemic Hartford Courant Oct 18. 1918 pg. 18
Thirty Three Me to Leave Bristol Hartford Courant Oct. 23 1918 pg. 4
Bristol Election Quieter Hartford Courant Nov. 6 1918 pg. 9
Red Cross in Bristol is Ready for Roll Call Hartford Courant Dec 15 1918 pg. 17
Bristol Factories to Employ More Men Hartford Courant Dec. 19 1918 pg. 19
Connecticut Health Bulletin State of Connecticut April 1919 Vol 33 No. 4
State Department of Health Thirty-Sixth Report State of Connecticut June 30 1920
Funeral of Dr. Robbins Will Be Held Hartford Courant Jan. 11 1948 pg. B4