Check out this Digital Exhibit!
Votes for Women!
In South Lake Tahoe 1920
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Based on the County Museum's exhibit at the South Lake Tahoe Library, March 2020
The photograph above is from the County Museum's collection shows a parade on Main Street, probably for the first anniversary of the World War I Armistice on November 11, 1919, with participants wearing face masks! Mabel Lyon is riding on the float.
HISTORY OF THE 'FLU IN EL DORADO COUNTY1918 – 1921 Devastation of Spanish Influenza
In 1918, a virulent strain of influenza spread around the world, with an estimate of 500 million infected, and affecting soldiers on both sides of World War I as well as the homefront worldwide. It was called the “Spanish flu” when King Alfonso of Spain was one of the early victims. With no antibiotics at that time, and limited information about the actual cause of the disease, quarantine was the best way to combat it. Homes that reported the flu were considered quarantined – no one could go in or out. 100 years ago, this was the usual course of action for all kinds of diseases that we now vaccinate for and treat with medicine, such as measles, polio, typhus and others. Today we are once again using quarantine to combat the current Covid-19 pandemic.
The Pharmacy Display at the County Museum shows the kind of signs, and the kinds of medicines used over 100 years ago
Spanish Influenza was particularly prevalent in 1918-1919 and lingered through 1921. It is estimated that 50 to 100 million died from this highly infectious disease. Coinciding with the devastation of World War I, it is considered one of the deadliest epidemics in human history.
"Uncle Sam's Advice on 'Flu" is the headline published in the Mountain Democrat on November 16, 1918. The Surgeon General, Rupert Blue is giving familiar advice then as it is now. These are excerpts from the article:
These are from the article in the 11-16-1918 Mt. Democrat on how to avoid the Flu
The newspaper article from over 100 years ago, in the November 6, 1918 Mt. Democrat explains the very familiar and current recommendations for how to avoid the 'flu!
On the same page is a notice of the new County Ordinance "for the Protection of the Public Health and Requiring all Persons to Wear Gauze Masks while on Streets or Highway, or at Public Gatherings" The penalty for violation was a fine of not more than five dollars and not more than five days in jail for the first offense – with the max of $50 and 50 days in jail for subsequent offenses. The Board of Supervisors adopted this ordinance on November 11, 1918, (coincidentally the day of the cease fire of World War I, known as Armistice Day)
County
ordinance requiring wear face masks (Mt. Democrat, 11/11/1918)
From the staff and volunteers with the El Dorado County Historical Museum
Stay Home and Stay Safe!
4/13/2020
WOMEN OF INFLUENCE:
Women making history in El Dorado County
This special exhibit highlights the women whose artifacts and photographs are in the County Museum's collection
JUNE 2019 - JUNE 20121
As
you walk through this Museum Exhibit, the stories we share about women who
lived and worked in El Dorado County are just a tiny selection of the
many stories out there. The women selected is based on the known
history of artifacts in the Museum's collection, historical
photographs preserved, and documents by and about these women in the
Museum's Research Room.
Gertrude Kirk, Margaret Kelley and Georgia Leoni are three such women, represented in these displays.
Visit the El Dorado County Historical Museum
Wednesday - Sunday
Special tours are available for groups - please call us at (530) 621-5865 and ask for Mary or Heather to discuss setting up a special tour of this exhibit, Women of Influence, for your group.
EVERYDAY ARTIFACTS USED (AND DISCARDED) BY MINERS
Artifacts - the things used by miners and then lost or discarded when no longer useful...spoons and knives, boxes and containers, bottles and tools...
On display at the County Museum
