EPHRATA — A little over 100 years ago, a different kind of illness swept through the nation, closing down life as residents knew it. The illness was the flu epidemic known as Spanish Influenza.

The influenza arrived in Washington state around the beginning of October 1918. By the end of the month, it had reached Ephrata, according to an article in the Grant County Journal on Oct. 25, 1918.

The state board of health required residents to wear gauze masks. An article, dated Nov. 15, 1918, stated that the order to wear the masks had been lifted that Monday and that “everyone scrapped their face rags with joyful alacrity.”

The influenza epidemic came as World War I was wrapping up. In an article published in the Wenatchee Daily World on Nov. 11, 1939, writer Herb Jenkins remembers the celebration that took place on Armistice Day. Jenkins was a child at the time and remembered hearing the fire bell in Ephrata start ringing. Instead of stopping as usual, it kept ringing and was rung throughout the rest of the day. A man at the fire station announced the news that the war was over to those who gathered around.

That day, an impromptu parade took place, a dance was held and everyone celebrated that the end of months of anxiety were over. Not in attendance that day was 28-year-old Ava Pruitt. That night, as others were celebrating, she lost her life to the Spanish flu.

According to reports from the Grant County Journal, it appears that Ephrata experienced at least two waves of the influenza. On Dec. 6, 1918, the Journal reported that a week after schools had gone back into session and as churches were preparing to resume normal services, another round of the virus broke out over the weekend.

“There were between 30 and 40 cases reported, with a large number of suspects under observation,” the Journal reported. “Almost identical conditions prevailed in Spokane where after danger was thought to be passed, the epidemic broke out with 250 additional cases being reported daily. It is thought by some that the second outbreak in Ephrata might have been caused by the many Spokane people visiting this city from day to day on business.”

The new outbreaks prompted churches to remain closed until further notice. The recently reopened schools were once again closed. This time, indefinitely. Public gatherings of all kinds were prohibited. Those affected by the virus were isolated and quarantined. Individuals who were well were required to wear masks.

“A week ago, it was thought that the epidemic had practically run its course and all danger was practically over,” reported the Journal. “The pool halls had been allowed to reopen, the schools resumed with a large attendance and announcements were made for religious service. The picture show gave one performance, although it did not take up the regular schedule of dates. Those and other activities of public kind had been dormant for a period of about six weeks.”

It was several more weeks before life started to return to normal. A headline from the Grant County Journal from Jan. 21, 1919, reported that schools were reopening and churches were going to start holding services again that Sunday. The ban on public dances in Ephrata was to stay in effect.

In “Memories of Grant County, Washington” vol. XVI, Lena Duncan recalled that during the influenza epidemic, it seemed like the air itself was contaminated because people got sick regardless of where they were.

“It seemed to come all at once and the strong, young people were apt to be the ones who were taken,” Duncan wrote. “As I recall, it was over almost as quickly as it came.”

During the pandemic, the old courthouse was turned into a hospital. Three local ladies oversaw and ran the operation. A trained nurse from the area surrounding Ephrata and the two doctors in town took care of the sick. But, according to Duncan, there weren’t enough people well enough to take care of the sick.

Across the state, cities banned certain activities and shut down businesses, and state officials required residents to wear masks that met certain criteria. Overall, around 6,570 people in Washington state died from the Spanish flu, according to reports from The Seattle Times. No figure of deaths from the Spanish flu pandemic in Ephrata or Grant County could be located. While some reports say that influenza was not a disease that was reportable at the time and was difficult to track, estimates suggest that 2.5 percent of those who got the virus died.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at rpinkerton@columbiabasinherald.com.