These Pictures Of Nashville During The 1918 Pandemic Proves That History Repeats Itself

COVID-19 has sent the world into a wild season of social distancing, and Tennessee is responding in tune. Folks find themselves isolated in their homes for weeks at a time, and the state government is poised to move as the world’s population responds to a pandemic the United States hasn’t seen the likes of since 1918. If you look back in the state’s archives, you’ll find a shockingly low number of photographic evidence from the pandemic of 1918. Sweeping illness shook the nation and Nashville was stymied by infection and strong, medical response. Curious about Music City during 1918? Take a look below!

Tennessee Secretary of State

In 1918, the world was caught up in the throes of a deadly and newly minted global war. During World War 1, nations responded to the conflict by sending both the Red Cross and medical staff overseas to help with the wounds and needs of soldiers, but there was a war on the homefront, too. Here, you can see crowds of soldiers in Nashville.

Nashville Public Library Archives

The Spanish Influenza outbreak infected an entire third of the world, which was roughly 500 million people at the time. There was a war overseas, but there was a war at home, too. The photograph above is of a Nashville press release circa 1918, documenting the horrors of the pandemic.

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Nashville Public Library Archives

Here, in another Nashville news release, you can see a story that outlines how to fight the "Pale Rider," the colloquial name given to the virus by the CDC. The pandemic began in 1918 and ended roughly in March of 1920.

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Nashville Public Library Archives

Nashville has very little photographic evidence of the time unless it came by way of old documents salvaged by the city and the library association. Influenza proved to be most fatal to those between 20 and 40 years old, which was both strange and unprecedented. Normally, the very young and the very old are the most affected.

Nashville Public Library Archives

World War 1 only added fuel to the raging viral fire. Since folks were moving from continent to continent in response to the conflict, it spread like wildfire through military bases and densely-populated cities. Here, you can see a patient in a Nashville hospital.

Nashville Public Library Archives

Interestingly enough, the hardest-hit part of Nashville was a The Powder Plan in Old Hickory, a factory that employed almost 8,000 people. By the end of the pandemic, 1,300 people had died in Nashville alone, and the basement of the local YMCA was turned into a morgue throughout the pandemic.

Thankfully, the world is responding swiftly and surely to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has kept death tolls controlled around the world. Here in Nashville, the city is responding the best it can to protect citizens by way of data-driven decisions. If you’re looking for more information about Nashville’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, you can find information here.