On March 16th 2020 the library closed it's doors to the public. On March 18th the book return was locked.
I don't think I have ever heard of the public library closing. The library is a much needed community resource. It's the great equalizer. The moment anyone walks through the main door they are equals.
The Covid-19 worldwide pandemic is having far-reaching effects for all. After two weeks of cleaning the library top to bottom all staff were sent home with plans for working remotely.
I searched, and found minimal records of libraries closing in the past. I am grateful my employer chose to put the safety of employees at the forefront. I am also grateful they have found a way to keep us all working while the Federal Government expects 4 million Canadians to apply for Emergency Job Loss Funding along with the almost 1 million who have already applied for Employment Insurance due to job loss after businesses have closed.
My online searching found records of public libraries closing during the spanish flu pandemic (1918-1920). Here we are 100 years later experiencing another worldwide pandemic.
I went looking through our Bramble Bush to find victims of the Spanish Flu Pandemic.
I wasn't successful in finding anyone whose death registration listed flu in the right time frame. It is highly unlikely that my husband and I have no ancestors who died during the Spanish Flu Pandemic. The majority of our Canadian people were in Ontario. The remainder were in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia.
"The virulent Spanish flu, a devastating and previously unknown form of influenza, struck Canada hard between 1918 and 1920. This international pandemic killed approximately 55,000 people in Canada, most of whom were young adults between the ages of 20 and 40." 1" ...
Flu victim Donald William of St. Thomas, Ontario, was described by Canadian Press as “one of the most brilliant young barristers of the era, being one of the youngest lawyers in the history of Canada to attain his qualifications, only twenty-one years of age at the time.” ...
...Out of Canada’s population of eight million, fifty thousand died from the flu, an enormous death toll in just a few months. ...
....Mr. and Mrs. Quinn of Montreal and their newborn baby died on the same day, leaving a fourteen-month-old as the family’s sole survivor. ....
...No part of Canada escaped the flu. It took from late September until late November for the worst of the flu to abate in Canada. ...
..." 2
My husband's grandfather was a young man during the Spanish Flu Pandemic.
Clifton Alexander (C.A.) (C. A.) (Cliff) Lee
BIRTH 20 MAY 1902 • Northfield Centre, Brant Co., Ontario, Canada
DEATH 9 SEP 1979 • Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
DEATH 9 SEP 1979 • Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
My husband's aunt, shared this story:
"Dad used to talk about the Spanish Flu. He was a young man of 16 or 17. He said, the healthy people would go around the village & check who had died over night & who needed food, etc. He said he buried a lot of people, sometimes whole families."
Now that I am off work I will join my neighbours in staying at home except for essential activities. My husband belongs to the group of essential workers. He will continue to go to work for his scheduled shifts, and will be working overtime as needed. He's a Paramedic.
Who knew this tiny baby would grow up to impact so many lives! There are people alive today because he showed up. ** Emergency Services Paramedic ** Such a cute little nose - with his mom |
As the Covid-19 Pandemic continues to spread he, his colleagues, and all in the health care field will be stretched to their limits. I will only have to stay home. What was initially called Social Distancing is now being called Physical Distancing to clarify that 2 meters (or 6 feet) should be as close as anyone should be. I have heard folks saying that our ancestors were called to war, and we are being called to the couch to watch tv. This is very true. The Spanish Flu Pandemic and World War 1 were linked. 100 years ago being isolated to home wasn't like it is today.
100 years ago their phone system couldn't handle the extra calls Today we have mobile phones that double as entertainment photo - Public Domain |
Some things aren't that much different 100 years later.
Alberta Health photo - Public Domain |
No sports this time around either 100 years ago The Stanley Cup was called off photo - Public Domain |
How will we spend the time that our health authority has told us to stay home
RESTING
REMINISCING ABOUT WHEN WE COULD LEAVE OUR HOUSE
EATING HEALTHY
ENJOYING THE SUN AND OUR YARDS
TAKING TIME TO READ A GOOD BOOK
PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING
On this day in 2020 this Bramble Bush has no living members effected. It is quite possible that all of our ancestors did not experience the worst of the pandemic. Maybe they had genes that make them resilient, and they have passed them on to us. We will never know. When I think of ancestors who may have been FORGOTTEN, and are not recorded in our bramble bush it makes me sad. No one should be forgotten.
In case you were worried I was going to end this blog without sharing any human family photos you won't be disappointed. For future descendants who find this blog I present my family:
Blogging to leave the stories for my descendants!
This is why I search -
Cause ...
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***
Footnotes:
1 Government of Canada, Parks Canada, History and culture, The Spanish Flu in Canada (1918-1920), Retrieved March 27th 2020 from
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/res/doc/information-backgrounder/espagnole-spanish
2 Canada's History, Killer Flu, Retrieved March 27th 2020 from
https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/arts-culture-society/killer-flu
Sources:
Global News, Coronavirus: Nearly 1 million Canadians applied for EI last week, Posted March 24, 2020 12:35 pm, Updated March 24, 2020 2:26 pm, Retrieved March 27th 2020 from https://globalnews.ca/news/6726111/coronavirus-ei-claims-1-million/
Globe & Mail, Ottawa expects 4 million Canadians to apply for emergency job loss fund due to COVID-19, Published March 25th 2020, Retrieved March 27th 2020 from
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-trudeau-says-new-merged-benefits-will-help-workers-affected-by-covid/
Photos, public domain sources or personal
Links:
Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/
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