AP Photo In this October 1918 photo provided by the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command a sign is posted at the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia that indicates, the Spanish Influenza was then extremely active.

On October 5,1918, residents of Warren County were led to believe they “may look unterrified” at the effects of a global pandemic — Spanish Influenza.

Two days later, their world came to a crashing halt.

The Oct. 7, 1918, headline in the Warren Evening Times was “FOR THE SAKE OF HEALTH.”

“State orders closing all saloons and amusement places and forbidding indoor assemblage of large crowds is based upon the sound reason for preventing further spread of Spanish influenza,” the report states.

Sound familiar?

“With thousands of soldiers and civilians stricken by the disease and many of them succumbing, it is right that nothing be avoided that might serve to check the extent of the epidemic. Local health boards are given wide discretion in supplementing the orders. This decision should be exercised wherever the public health warrants. In the presence of a plague no maudlin or selfishness should dictate preventive measures.”

Does that also sound familiar?

“If there are other places than those listed in state orders which help spread rather than check the disease, let the public authorities control them.”

And the report might not have used the phrase “social distancing,” but that is exactly what is outlined.

“Meanwhile, the individual has his duty. It is to avoid great crowds and to observe the simple precautions which medical authority has prescribed.”

There was also caution against “individual or mob hysteria.”

“The mental balance should be preserved. While conditions are serious enough, they will not be improved by panic or individual or mob hysteria. If America did not have thousands of men mobilized in camps and cantonments in military training, there is little doubt that the disease might have been checked long ago.”

Another day’s report declined to publish church notices “in view of the fact that the board of health has closed all churches in the city because of the influenza epidemic in the state.”

As the next week to 10 days unfold, we start to see individual reports of the disease as well as additional closures.

From Oct. 10: “Corporal Roy Leon Hart is reported to be recovering from an attack of Spanish Influenza at Camp Greenleaf,” a medical officer training camp on the Chickamauga battlefield in Georgia.

That same day, the paper reported that “a private letter received here from Butler (Pennsylvania) says that Spanish Influenza has a stronghold there, one physician having more than 90 cases. Even the schools are closed and patrons of stores are enjoined not to tarry long over the counters.”

A week later, the paper reported that “K.M. Hodges, chairman of the Local Draft Board, who has been ill with the influenza at his home in North Warren, is greatly improved and he will probably be able to resume his duties by the first of the week.”

City of Warren police chief Haag “received a message today informing him that is daughter, Miss Hazel Haag, was ill with the Spanish Influenza at the home of her cousin, Mrs. Zoe Kuntz. Kuntz is a trained nurse and Miss Haag is assured the best of care.”

But that doesn’t mean the initial wave of restrictions didn’t continue. From the October 17, 1918, Warren Evening Mirror: “The state health department in a letter issued last night, declines to allow a modification of the order (forbidding) the sale of intoxicants during influenza epidemic, as requested by the Wholesale Malr and Liquor Dealers’ Protective Association of Western Pennsylvania.”

“All saloons are closed,” the paper reported on Oct. 21. “Not a drop of liquor can be bought from Pittsburgh to New Jersey in exception on prescription from drug stores. This is to prevent people from gathering in crowds.”

The Evening Mirror reported also on October 21 that the Department of Health’s report “shows 39,945 cases of influenza and 4,313 of pneumonia.”

Those numbers were assuredly too low as influenza was not required to be reported to the Health Department by local physicians and that breakdown especially impacted rural areas.

Military camps provided a breeding ground for the virus to spread.

“The Army death rate at home is higher than it has been at any time since the United States went to war,” the report states. “There have been 144,095 ‘flu’ cases in all the Army camps since September 13, when the epidemic started.

“The ‘flu’ is now traveling westward, according to the Division of Sanitation. There is little hope entertained that the epidemic will be halted before it has time to reach the Pacific Coast.

“Keep your windows open, day and night, urges the U.S. Public Health Service.”

This is the third story on the Spanish Flu of 1918 in Warren County and beyond.