The Spanish Flu Outbreak of 1918-- Part 2: Lots of Similarities 1918 and 2020

My grandparents lived through it, but my parents did not as Dad was born in 1928 and Mom in 1930.

Most cases of the virus made their appearance within three to four days.  Common symptoms included fever, cough, sneezing, headache, body ache and bloodshot eyes. However, many cases developed into bacterial pneumonia, meningitis and severe ear infection that struck suddenly and spread to the brain.

One day a person could feel perfectly fine and the next could be severely ill.  Many deaths were actually attributed to the secondary infections that could not be fought with weakened immune systems.  (Sounds a bit familiar.)

With limited antibiotics and no vaccines, United States hospitals and morgues filled up quickly and to overflowing.

--Cooter

James Garner-- One of My Favorites

From the Jan. 5-11 American Profile Magazine "Ask American Profile."

Someone wrote in and asked "Where was James Garner born, how old is he, and does he have any children?"

Garner, 85, was born and raised in Norman, Oklahoma. He and his wife Lois have been married for 57 years and he has a daughter and stepdaughter.

He was the star of TV shows "Maverick" and "Rockford Files." His movies include: "The Great Escape," "Support Your Local Sheriff," "Murphy's Romance" and "Space Cowboys." His autobiography "The Garner Files" came out in 2011.

He always reminds me of my dad.

--Cooter

The World's Most Visited Art Museum (Go Ahead, Guess)

From Time Magazine.

And, I've been to two of the three listed, thanks to Mom and her family trips.

Annual attendance.

#1. LOUVRE-- Paris-- 9.7 million
#2. METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART-- New York City-- 6.1 million
#3. BRITISH MUSEUM-- London-- 5.5 million

I've been to the Louvre and British Museum.

I Have S-O- Much Culture. --Cooter

TV: Better in Reruns Than Originally Aired

From the August 18, 2013, Parade Magazine Personality Parade.

The question was "Have any shows done better in syndication than when originally aired?" by Matt Coon.

ANSWER, YES:

Neither "The Honeymooners" nor "Star Trek" ranked among the top 15 shows when they first aired. Both were wildly successful and built their following through reruns.

Then, the magazine wanted to know the readers' favorite reruns at www.parade.com/tv.

I liked both of these series on reruns, even though I never had the chance to see The Honeymooners when it originally was shown as my parents didn't watch Jackie Gleason and we only had one TV. I didn't watch Star Trek until I was a freshman in college.

That brought back memories. I'll write about them today in my Down Da Road Blog.

Beam Me Up!! --Cooter

My Old Hometown: Palatine, Illinois-- Part 1

From the Nov. 7, 2008, Chicago Tribune "Palatine growing at a comfortable pace" by Leslie Mann.

Palatine in considered to be part of Chicago's Northwest suburbs.  I lived there from 7th grade to the end of freshman year in college, the longest I had ever lived in one place before that time.  So, to me, this is still my hometown even though I haven't lived there since 1970, with the exception of living with Liz's parents for a couple months in 1973 while student teaching and looking for a job until we got an apartment in Des Plaines in August.

When we moved into the house in Winston Park, back in 1963, there were around 8,000 people.  In 2008, there were 66,820. 

The article refers to the revitalized downtown with new condos and townhouses that I don't particularly care for.  They tore down the old Durty Nellie's Irish bar to build a condo monstrosity.  And, of course, my old favorite Ben Franklin store is long-gone as are most of the stores there while I was growing up.

My old junior high, Winston Park is still there.  Some of my old high school, Palatine, still stands and is used by the police and park district, but the school itself is elsewhere.  Fremd High School (freshman year) is still there as well, but no longer surrounded by corn fields.

Our old house at 1102 Anderson Drive is still there, but now painted white.  Liz's place at 44 Patricia is still there as well.

I worked at the Burger King from age 16 (my first job) until the end of freshman year in college.  It is on Northwest Highway (US-14) by Hicks Road.  It no longer stands, but there is a popular hot dog place called Photo's on the site.

It Was a Great Place to Grow Up.  --Cooter

My Most Memorable TV Moment--Part 1: The Kennedy Assassination

The big two events were the JFK assassination and funeral and 9-11.

I was in 7th grade at Winston Park Jr. High in Palatine, Illinois, when President Kennedy was assassinated.  I remember hearing about it over the intercom and many of the girls crying.  We all were excited to be let out of school because of it and to have several days off.

But, we weren't happy to find that all five of our Chicagoland TV stations had nothing but coverage on the event.  I was watching when Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald.

The funeral was the part that got me the most.  It still sends shivers up my spine when I hear those muffled drums and everyone crying.  And then, there was that salute from John, Jr..

A Sad  Time. 

Pearl Harbor and My Family

Earlier this morning, I called my mother about Pearl Harbor. She did not realize this was the 70th anniversary of it, although she lived through it.

Dec. 7, 1941, she was eleven years old, living in Goldsboro, NC, and remembers first hearing the news over the radio as her father was was diligently trying to unwind a mass of Christmas lights and not having much success. She still has two wreaths they put up every Christmas, but doesn't put them up anymore (she still lives in that house).

My dad was 13 and living in Mt. Olive, NC, and never served as the war ended before he was old enough. His brother, Delbert, did serve in the 101st Airborne and was at the Battle of the Bulge in the town of Bastogne where he lost most of the rest of his platoon. He came back from the war a changed man.

Liz's dad, Ambrose, was 27 and living in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He later enlisted in the Army and became an officer in the ordnance department although he never served overseas. Liz's mother, Frances, was 24 and living in Abilene, Kansas. Her parents would probably never had met had it not been for the war. Her father was stationed in Kansas.

Liz says they heard about the war over the radio as well.

How I Spent the Day: July 24, 1896-- Part 2

After we finished our sweet little talk, we went downstairs and cut the last of our melons Papa had sent us.

I then took a ruffle I was hem stitching for our little unborn babe and went out on the back porch in the cool and sewed awhile. David came downstairs and asked Mary Prince and my self if we did not want to go to the Academy with him.

We went- got some cool water from the pump. Just as we came back Miss Annie Biggs came in and stayed until almost dark. We ate supper and spent the rest of the evening on the back porch in the refreshing breeze.

We retired about 11 o'clock but did not go to sleep till 12 or after.

Altogether we spent a very pleasant day.

Mrs. D.M. Prince

How I Spent the Day: July 24, 1896-- Part 1

Evidently, my great grandfather got my great grandmother, Minnie Hollowell Prince, to write down what she did on the same date. No wonder he was going multiple times to the school to get stationery.

"I arose at 6:15 oclock. Cleaned up our rooms until the bell rang at 7 oclock announcing breakfast.

After breakfast I finished cleaning up.

Papa had sent me four nice melons and I sent Mrs. Millie Dunn one of them.

John brought the mail. I took my Ladies Home Journal went out on the back porch in the breeze to read did not read but a few minutes when Mrs. R.C. Josey and Mrs. A.E. Taylor came and spent quite a good while with us.

When they left Mrs. Magnum and I went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

I ate dinner came upstairs. David and I went in Mr. Wilson's room to try to take a nap, it was so warm in our room we could not sleep.

We did not spend the hour sleeping, we spent it talking over the past year, how happy we had been. It has been the happiest year of my life. Not but one thing has happened to mar our happiness and that was the death of our dear Mother.

More to Come.

A Day in the Life: July 24, 1896-- Part 2

Then Minnie, Mary and I sat around and chatted till after five, Mrs. Mangum having gone to see Mrs. Hancock.

Minnie, Mary and I went over to the School Building and got some stationery for Ruth and Frances. Miss Annie Biggs called about 6 PM and stayed till almost dark, her call made supper late.

I did not enjoy my supper as I had a little head-ache, but it soon passed ___ and I felt very good.

*John brought the mail. I received a letter from Claude H. Wilson.

After talking awhile Minnie and I came up to our room and wrote and talked till about eleven.

Owing to a good breeze, we slept in Claude's room, but did not reach dreamland till after 12 o'clock.

Altogether, we spent a happy day, though it was intensely hot.

David M. Prince
Scotland Neck, N.C.

* John Hamums, our colored waiting boy, all around the house and school boy.

A Day in the Life: July 24, 1896-- Part 1

That would be 115 years ago. Written by my great grandfather, David Maybury Prince, after he wrote what had happened the year before. On this shorter account, he wrote about what he had done that day. A real slice of life.

HOW I SPENT THE DAY JULY 24, 1896

Arose a little earlier than usual and cut up the grass in the front walk. This gave me a great appetite and I enjoyed breakfast. After breakfast I went over to the School Building and got some stationery to send to our home people. Mailed some letters and then made a bottom for a slop tub and then painted it.

Enjoyed some grapes Minnie bought, then ate a fine diner.

Minnie and I lay down in Claude's room, it was cooler than ours, and spent a very pleasant hour or more talking of our marriage and of the happiness and trials of the last year.

We got up and ate the last of the four melons Minnie's Father had sent her.

More to Come.

A Very Valuable Family Notebook

My mom has a photocopied notebook of letters and journal entries of my great grandfather, David Maybury Prince. I have been transcribing it in the last several blog entries.

The notebook was given to my grandmother, Gertrude Prince Hood, who made a notation on the back cover.

"Presented to Gertrude Prince Hood at the 10th anniversary Prince Reunion at Southport, N.C. July 19th 1992. By her nephew David W. Phillips, Annie May Prince Phillips' youngest son of Columbia, SC."

Upon her death, it was to go to my mother and then to me "as he is more like my Dad than any of my grandchildren."

"This the 21st day of July, 1992.
Gertrude P. Hood
Goldsboro, NC

David Prince First Anniversary, July 24, 1896-- Part 4

This brings us to-day.

Glancing over the pages of the last year, taking our marriage as the beginning, for in truth it was the beginning of life, many sunny days are seen, all happiness, only the rainy days and sadness before referred to marred our happiness. The past year has been the happiest of my life. Not one unkind word has passed between us'

Minnie has made a model little wife and if I know my own heart, I love her more to-night than I did one year ago, and at that time, I loved her with all my heart, but I suppose my heart has grown' Anyway, I know I love her more.

We are expecting a child born to us at any time, and we are happy at the thought . May God grant a blessing on the unborn loved one and the soon-to-be little Mother.

In closing this I must not forget to say that in our happiness we have not forgotten the giver of all our pleasures and may he continue His blessings and God grant that we may be as happy and love Him as well, _____, one year from tonight--through all life.


Thus was my great grandfather David Maybury Prince's account of his first year of marriage from July 24, 1895, to July 12, 1896, over 115 years ago. It is too bad that more people don't take the time to sit down at the end of a year and write about what happened to them. It would sure get their descendants in much closer contact with them.

I learned a lot about him and will write about that later.

David Prince First Anniversary, July 24, 1896-- Part 3

While on our journey we heard Mother was worse, Lonnie met us at _____, Minnie's meeting with her people, especially her Father was almost heart rendering. Soon after we arrived, we went in to see Mother, she knew both of us and as long as I live I shall never forget the happy expression of Minnie's Mother when she saw her loved daughter.

Not many hours passed before the sad message "On earth an angel less, in heaven one more. Mother left us at 12:30. Minnie & David." was sent to our sympathizing friends at Scotland Neck. Words can't express the grief. I shall attempt it, but Minnie's grief was deep and in it thank God I tried to share her trouble. In her grief I learned to love my darling more than I ever had before and I already thought I loved her all I could.

Our return was a sad one, but soon Emma, Minnie's youngest sister, and Mary came and made our little family more cheerful.

Our return

David Prince First Anniversary, July 24, 1896-- Part 2

Minnie went home a few days before I did(the dear little creature would have gone earlier but I was feeling unwell) and the time seemed long before I could see her for this was the first time we had been separated any length of time since our marriage.

Minnie met me at train in Goldsboro though it was as early as 7 o'clock. I know I was happier to see her than ever before in my life. A week's stay at our homes passed hurriedly and happily (I forgot to mention that while home I bought me a watch and "Lorr" and I bought a suit of furniture) and we returned home and resumed work.

Everything moved on well. We had a good school and our closing exercises were good. After the boys left it was a little dull but we all felt more free and had a good time.

But alas the rain must fall. Minnie's mom, and mine, for I loved her devotedly, was taken sick. For several days we were uneasy but prayed to God earnestly and hoped. In fact, we did not think our Mother was dangerously ill, but at last a message came calling us home. Indeed, it was a sad journey, but a hopeful one.

David Prince First Anniversary, July 24, 1896-- Part 1

This is an entry in the journal of my great-grandfather, David M. Prince, recounting his first year of marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Minnie Hollowell, my great grandmother.

It was handwritten and some of his writing is very hard to read.

FIRST ANNIVERSARY, JULY 24, 1896

A SHORT REVIEW OF THIS PAST YEAR

Minnie and I were married one year ago to-day. The day we married was very warm indeed, perhaps to-day has not been quite so warm, but very near so.

We were married at 1:15 and left at 2 o'clock for Greensboro at which place we spent the night. I will not attempt to explain the first night, it is sufficient to say we were very bashful though we had loved each other since childhood and had been engaged seven years.

Mr. Wilson, or Claude as we call him, went with us from Goldsboro to Raleigh and Mr. R.J. Vauer, Pastor of Baptist Church got on train at Durham and went on to Greensboro with us.

We left Greensboro the morning of the 25th for Roaring Gap Hotel. Our stay of two weeks was pleasant, yes delightful.

We spent a week home (Goldsboro) and then came here, Scotland Neck. School soon opened, the time passed rapidly away and soon it was near Christmas.

More to Come.

World War I Veterans Auxiliary

Mrs. Ham mentioned that my grandmother was a major mover in the World War I Veterans Auxiliary in Goldsboro. I could find no mention of that organization.

However. it is possible that she meant the American Legion Auxiliary of Post 11 at 2933 US Highway 117 North between Goldsboro and Mount Olive.

The American Legion was established right after World War I and I would guess the #11 designation would be for how early the post was established, making Goldsboro's one of the first ones in the state.

Was There Such an Organization? --Cooter

The 1918-1919 Flu Pandemic in North Carolina-- Part 1

In reference to the last five posts about my grandmother.

I never knew that my grandmother, Gertrude Hood had had the Spanish Fly back then and that after she recovered, she volunteered to nurse other victims. My mom said that my grandfather, Graham Hood, also had it but recovered. He always said he recovered because he kept his bowels clear. I wouldn't know whether or not that is true.

I have noticed while walking through cemeteries a large number of people dying in 1918. North Carolina, with its many military bases was particularly hard hit. It seemed that the flu followed our soldiers back from Europe at the conclusion of World War I. My grandfather was in the Army, but had never gone to Europe. My great Uncle David had, but evidently had not contracted the disease before he died in the attempt to save the little boy from the flooded river.


PANDEMIC IN NORTH CAROLINA

The pandemic lasted from 1918 to 1919. By September 27, 1918, North Carolina reported that all hospitals from Wilmington to Raleigh were crowded with victims. By the first week of October, the disease was an epidemic. A week later, Fayetteville reported it to be especially bad.

An Almost-Forgotten Part of US History. --Cooter

In Memory of Gertrude Prince Hood-- Part 5

Friends were shocked to learn of her death after a fall.  She would have been 93 September 3, 1993.
We shall miss seeing her at meetings and church for a long time to come.
Our World War I Veterans Auxiliary will especially miss her as she was a prime mover in its organization and kept it going.
Thank you, Gertrude, for all you've meant to us.

Catherine Matthew Ham.
Quite a heartfelt and very informative letter.  Thank you Mrs. Ham.

In Memory of Gertrude Prince Hood-- Part 4

Gertrude and Graham bought a house in front of Herman Park at 504 N. Jackson Street [where I'm typing this right now].

We had a Sewing Circle, sewing baby clothes.

They had two sons who preceded them in death, avid, an infant; and William who married Dot Harris. hey had two children, Graham III and Gayle.

Their (Gertrude and Graham's) daughter was Barbara who married Donald Hatch.

Gertrude's sister Annie Mae married Clifton Phillips, William married Julia Mae Roberts and after her death Virgi Forbes. Julia married Bush Nash.

Gertrude loved her home and delighted in having a flower garden full of gorgeous roses. She also loved bridge and sewing. She took them to the sick.

She was a member of many clubs and organizations such as the Garden Club, D.A.R., World War I Veterans Auxiliary, Bridge Clubs, etc.. She loved people and they loved her. She was also a teacher in the Carey Newton Sunday School Class and was active in church work and in the Silver Singers.

More to Come.