The Victoria Hospital circa 1920. (submitted photo/P.A. Historical Society)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Prince Albert and Spanish Flu

Local historian looks back on Spanish Influenza amid COVID-19

Mar 31, 2020 | 3:43 PM

Over a hundred years ago, locals were also learning the benefits of social distancing and washing vigorously in the fight against Spanish Influenza.

Fred Payton, a board member with the P.A. Historical Society, used a number of historical records along with the research from others to find out about what life was like during the epidemic in 1918. Payton said he unearthed some fascinating information. Some facts which Payton, who has spent over 30 years working in federal corrections, found interesting was what the flu meant for those behind the walls.

“There was no mention whatsoever of any kind of impact on the provincial jail or on the penitentiary,” he said.

However, during his research Payton found the asylum for the insane in North Battleford was impacted in a big way. He said at the time of the Spanish Flu there were over 1,000 people, both patients and families of workers living on the grounds.

Payton said he was motivated to look at the Spanish Influenza and its local impact because of the current COVID-19 outbreak.

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“A person should look back and see how things compared,” he said.

Effect on healthcare

The coming of the flu forced those providing healthcare services in P.A. to make some major changes. At the time the city had both the Victoria Hospital and The Holy Family Hospital. The two hospitals reached capacity in October 1918. Payton said there was a facility constructed at the Victoria Hospital where people could be isolated.

“They actually had to renovate an upper floor of the isolation hospital in order to create about 35, 36 new beds,” he said.

The old Prince Albert Collegiate Institute served as an emergency hospital to meet growing demands.

During his research Payton also found an article from a medical officer which gave instructions about what steps should be taken to protect against the virus. These instructions encouraged people to using lots of soap and water to clean items before drying them outside. All food coming from rooms housing the sick was destroyed.

“They were dealing with things very much in the way we were dealing with things here,” he said.

Payton said there was also some conflict on the health care front between rural municipalities and the City of Prince Albert as the city covered health care costs for both hospitals. He said the nearby rural municipalities expected their citizens to be provided care regardless of who invested.

“There was a little bit of difficulty that way,” he said.

Changes in day to day life

During the epidemic there were bans placed on public activity which started Oct. 18 and went until November. Church services were suspended until the fourth Sunday of November.

Payton said given the city’s history, the cancellation of Sunday service was a big event.

“The 20 of October 1918 is considered to be the first churchless Sunday in the City of Prince Albert since its founding,” he said.

Payton said Sacred Heart Cathedral was open for private devotions at the time and The Salvation Army put on what he called open air service in a local park.

“They were allowed to conduct services outside,” he said.

Lessons for today

Payton said the Spanish Flu provided a number of lessons in terms of dealing with public health issues. He added the epidemic showed the importance of social distancing in keeping people safe.

“They learned that you need to keep people apart,” he said.

Another lesson which Payton believes the Spanish Influenza taught is the importance of making sure to let the virus run it course before rushing back to normalcy.

“Don’t get impatient and take unnecessary risk because things seem to be tapering off,” he said.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn