Two weeks off from school might seem pretty good at face value, but if you spend the time in sickness, the fun pretty much gets thrown out the window. Back in February 1952, there was an unexpected break when more than 1,000 Oneonta school students could not report to school, due to a "flu-like pandemic."
The Oneonta Star reported on Wednesday, Feb. 6, "All city schools, as well as St. Mary's, Bugbee and Plains Schools were closed yesterday afternoon until Monday. … From 949 pupils absent Monday, the total swelled yesterday to more than 1,000 out of a total of 2,794. In the seven city schools the absentees totaled 33 per cent." Students were being sent home sick in a steady stream Monday.
The closure of public schools was authorized by Dr. Reade S. Sisson, city health officer. The other school principals followed suit.
It wasn't only students coming down with the illness, as 12 public school teachers were also sidelined.
Before Oneonta was so hard hit, the Star said, "The illness was first reported as widespread in Cooperstown, later in Milford and Schenevus and now in Oneonta and its environs."
If you happened to be on the unaffected side, the time off wasn't a lot of fun. All extracurricular school activities were cancelled and local state health officials advised people to avoid crowds.
The healthy students had to find things to do. If they stayed up on current events, either through the newspaper or radio, they followed the sad story of the passing of British monarch King George VI on Thursday, Feb. 7.
His elder daughter soon became Queen Elizabeth II, the first woman ruler since Victoria had resigned over 50 years ago.
Judith Latcher of Oneonta, then 11, was fascinated by this historic change. Among her Christmas gifts she had recently received was a book entitled "The Little Princesses."
It had motivated Judith to write a letter to then-Princess Elizabeth.
Miss Latcher got quite a thrill when a letter arrived from England at her home on Tilton Avenue just days before the change in leadership.
It was penned by Margaret Hay, lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth, thanking her for the letter to the princess.
When asked if Judith would write again to the new leader, Queen Elizabeth, she replied, "On no, she'll be too busy now."
It was reported Saturday, Feb. 9 that the locally closed schools would re-open on Monday "on an exploratory basis." Dr. Sisson had thought, based on his opinions from other physicians in Oneonta, that the flu-like illness had abated somewhat.
No sooner did city schools open Monday morning and attendance was taken, they were closed again in the afternoon.
There were still nearly 830 students absent. Only St. Mary's school said they'd continue operations.
Other schools remained closed for another week, including all other school activities.
If there were St. Valentine's Day-related events Thursday or Friday of that week, a lot of high school sweethearts probably exchanged get well cards, in addition to Valentines. School resumed Monday, Feb. 18.
From an ill student's perspective of the last two weeks there was a bit of insult added to the injury.
"Because of the lost time," the Star reported that day, "the public schools will stay open Friday on Washington's Birthday, which was scheduled as a holiday," in addition to other scheduled time off before the end of the school year.
This weekend: The surge in popularity of radio in Oneonta in February 1922.
City Historian Mark Simonson's column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or e-mail him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com. His columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/marksimonson.
Columns
Illness brings an unexpected school vacation in February 1952
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Being a parent is a constant learning process
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Perfect attendance by Saturday’s Bread for 20 years in Oneonta
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Climbing is one thing, but skydiving?
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Climbing is one thing, but skydiving?
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- William Masters
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Time for lawmakers who put needs of society first
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War not worth gambling with lives of soldiers
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Titanic was a microcosm of U.S. economic disparity
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William Masters: Nation stands divided between 'us' and 'them'
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A quarterback can't win the game alone
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Time for lawmakers who put needs of society first
