It has been 100 years since the Spanish Flu epidemic that plagued the world and closed schools.
In 1916, there was an opportunity for students to earn college credit by attending normal school (teacher Preparation school) in Bunkerville. When the 1918 flu epidemic hit the valley, schools were closed, but the students all girls of the normal school were taken to the nearby mountains to be quarantined from the town below. The teacher of the normal school was a young Columbia University graduate Mina Connell, who guaranteed each graduate of her school a job. Her six students were Charity Leavitt, Juanita Leavitt, Leah Leavitt, Ethel Leavitt Ethel hardy Mary Woodbury and Retta Leavitt. They prepared their own meals from small game that they shot themselves; once a week supplies and letters would come from home. There was no interruption in their schooling. At the start of new school year these six young women had qualified to teach. The photos show the girls preparing the tent they would sleep and study in. ( the young lady holding the gun is thought to be Juanita Leavitt Pulsipher Brooks) and the second is laundry day.
Vonda’s in it’s hayday
And now…this week in history
August 25, 1912: The telephone line is completed for a distance of about ten miles out of the desert between here (Littlefield) and Shem, UT and Mr. Leavitt expects to say “Hello” to central at St George by October.
August 25, 1912: Victor Iverson of Mexico is here and tells some horrible stories of the hardships endured by Americans there. Victor is one of our young men that left here three years ago.
August 26, 1909, Washington County news : The Mesquite valley, situated down the river between St George and Moapa contains the same amount of irrigated land as does the Moapa valley, and can produce all that Moapa valley does, but owing to the greater distance from the railroad cannot enter the markets with its cantaloupes, etc. Bunkerville, Littlefield and other small communities between St George and Mesquite are also barred for the same reason,yet the fruit grown in these places cannot beaten the world over for flavor and appearance.
August 27, 1912: Willard Iverson and family also his mother and sister passed through here today on then way to Littlefield Ariz. They have been in Mexico of the past few years.
August 28, 1914, Littlefield: Harold Reber went to Mesquite NV today on business. He was accompanied by his sister Zona and Miss Bessie Bowler of that place.
August 28, 1914: The fourth cutting of hay has been stacked; the hay crop this season is very good. Mr. and Mrs. Frehner spent last week on the mountain.
