Otto’s Column

LOCAL HISTORY Erxleben family tombstones reminder of pandemic

Editor’s note: Otto Dick, Oregon has researched the people, places and events important in the Oregon area’s history for the Ogle County Historical Society. The following is one of a series of the articles he has written.

BY OTTO DICK

While driving by the Riverside Cemetery in the front row close to the Burchell Mausoleum is the monument of Herman Erxleben. His daughter Clara who died of the Spanish Flu is buried at this gravesite.

Buried at Riverview Cemetery, just north of Riverside Cemetery, are Erxleben’s son Edward, his wife and five children who all died from the Spanish Flu starting Jan. 21, 1920 to Feb. 9, 1921.

They lived on a farm located on the German Church Road. Their farmhand and nurse also succumbed to the flu. This monument is a reminder of the flu pandemic lasting almost 36 months.

An article entitled “Spanish flu: The deadliest pandemic in history” describes this deadly influenza pandemic lasting from January 1918 to December 1920.

This outbreak began during the final months of World War I and some believe the war was partly responsible for spreading the virus. This virus was hardest on young adults between the ages of 20 and 30.

Between 30% to 40% of people who worked or lived in confined areas, such as schools, barracks and government buildings, became infected. The symptoms of the flu included a headache, tiredness, dry hacking cough, loss of appetite and stomach problems.

Doctors urged people to avoid crowded places or simply other people and to cover their mouths and noses in public. They were also advised not to shake hands with others, to stay indoors, to avoid touching library books and to wear masks.

Schools and theaters closed. New York City also made spitting in the streets illegal.

Schools and other buildings became makeshift hospitals and medical students had to take the place of doctors in some instances.

This article also mentions another pandemic that happened 500 years earlier, when the Black Death traveled around the world.

One estimate was 25% of Americans were

TOP LEFT: The Herman Erxleben family monument is located at Riverside Cemetery. Clara, his daughter, died of the flu is also buried also here. TOP RIGHT: Governor Lowden on a horse. Photos supplied by Otto Dick

infected with the virus killing over 675,000 people in the U.S. The Spanish Flu reduced the life expectancy by 12 years.

Governor Frank Lowden, our 25 th Governor, served from Jan. 8, 1915 to Jan. 10, 1921. He served during WW1 and the outbreak of the Spanish Flu.

During his term in office on April 6 the U.S. declared war on Germany. On July 25 the war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

During this war an estimated eleven million personnel and seven million civilians died. •••

Another event that occurred during Lowden’s term as Illinois Governor was the 19 th Amendment which granted women the right to vote.

For the first 144 years of American’s early history married women couldn’t own property, had no legal claim to any money they might earn and no female had the right to vote.

Women were expected to focus on housework and raising a family, not politics. It’s ironic that the first woman running for President of the United States won the majority vote but not the electoral college.

And finally another U. S. event during Gov. Lowden’s term in office was the passage of the 18 th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution which banned the manufacture, transportation and sale of intoxicating liquors.

This act led to a rise in gang violence and other crimes.

Prohibition ended with the ratification on Dec. 5 of the 21st Amendment.

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EMMALYN UPDATE Masks sold to help 11-year-old battle her disease

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

S.M.I.L.E. stands for see miracles in life every day. That’s Emmalyn Freeze’s motto.

The Mt. Morris 10-year old has gone through 39 brain and spine surgeries in her battle with Chiari Malformation. After being in California for 11 weeks and 4 surgeries, she has returned home, but will be heading back on July 5 to figure out her next steps.

“She always smiles,” Emmalyn’s mother, Stephanie Freeze said. “She said she liked it and we’ve done shirts for her with that on them. She said in California, ‘I do smile every day, hopefully my miracle will come someday.”

Masks bearing the motto are being sold by Brave Gowns with proceeds going towards Emmalyn’s treatment. They can be purchased at bravegowns.com/products/s-m-i-l-e-for-emmalyn-mask

Chiari Malformation is a condition where part of the brain slides down into the spinal canal and blocks the cerebrospinal fluid from flowing as it needs to cleanse and nourish the spinal cord.

Emmalyn often struggles with headaches while upright and has to lie down to reduce the pain. That, along with COVID-19 restrictions in California made for a tough trip.

Emmalyn and Stephanie had to drive to California in March with flights being canceled due to the pandemic.

“We stayed at the Ronald McDonald house,” Stephanie said. “Everything was shut down. We had to get food delivered. We hung out in the room for 11 weeks. It was really hard for her. She had a lot of pain and had to be stuck in her room.”

Returning to California after only a couple weeks home will be difficult, Stephanie said. But Emmalyn’s doctors need to see her and get imaging to decide her next steps.

Emmalyn created the mask to bring smiles, while also hoping to make a difference in protecting others from COVID-19.

The proceeds from these masks go to helping Emmalyn Freeze in her ongoing medical battle with Chiari Malformation.

COVID-19 & BUSINESS Oregon splash pad, Polo pool opened June 26-27

Public eager to cool off at popular sites in Oregon and Polo

BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

In recent weeks, Erin Folk has seen kids sadly walking around Oregon’s parks, unable to use the equipment due to COVID-19 guidelines.

The Oregon Park District Executive Director encountered a child on Thursday who said he was excited to get up early and eat breakfast at the park before spending the day there Friday, with it reopening under the state’s phase four plan. OPD has officially opened its playgrounds, dog park, splash pad and shelter.

“For the most part, the majority have been positive about it,” Folk said. “They get we’re working with the guidelines. We have those conversations and they know we’re being conscious of people’s needs. I understand the eagerness. It’s been a long road.”

Friday is also the first time that residents will be able to use the newly-renovated Park West location, which was completed this month. A grand opening celebration was in the works for months, but is currently on hold due to gathering restrictions being at 50 people or

Wriglee Castillo, 5, of Oregon, runs through a water feature at the Oregon Park District’s splash park on Friday. The popular splash park opened on Friday, June 26.

less during phase four. Folk called the lack of a ceremony “unfortunate,” but hopes to do something in the next phase.

Signs has been placed at each play site outlining social distancing requirements.

“It also says if you see it’s not possible to abide by guidelines, to visit another park,” Folk said. “We hope people use good judgement.”

High-touch areas like restrooms and shelters will be disinfected each day, Folk said.

Wriglee Castillo, 5, of Oregon, wasn’t sure what she do first when her dad brought her to the splash pad at Oregon Park Weston Friday afternoon.

Castillo, dressed in her swimwear, bolted from the car with her dad and ran toward the windiing river, but then saw the new playground equipment and changed course to crawl on one of its features.

But in a couple munites she was back at the splash park. “She just loves it,” her dad said.

Also enjoying the sprays of water were Brianna and Brogan Wilkinson, 9 and 13, of Oregon, and Isacc Freeman, 8, of Freeport.

“We like all of this,” said Brianna, “but I like the little river mostly.”

In Polo, the city’s commiunity swimming pool opened to the delight of kids and adlults on June 27.

Because only 45 people are allowed into the pool during each session, the Polo Fire Department sprayed water into the air at the other end of City Park during the afternoon to make sure any child coming to the pool to cood off would not be disappointed.

Nash Opens July 8 Oregon’s Nash Recreation Center won’t be opening until July 8 and will have a series of restrictions. The reason for the delayed opening was to get part-time staff like lifeguards trained. The training company OPD uses requires so much training per month and it couldn’t be started until Friday, which will

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media TOP LEFT: Owen Ketter (left) and Cameron Folk, both of Oregon, visited Oregon Park West on Friday to use the park’s new Toro court. The court is divided into four triangles and includes four electronic goals. It can be used for soccer and hockey play. TOP RIGHT: Brianna Wilkinson, 9, of Oregon, Isacc Freeman, 8, of Freeport, and Brogan Wilkinson, 13, of

Oregon, play at one of water features at the Oregon Park District’s splash pad.

•OPENINGS

Continued from Page 7

take a week and a half.

Since closing in March, Nash has undergone indoor renovations such as the gym floors being redone. The

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amount of people allowed indoors will be limited by a reservation system. Users must schedule a use time for the pool, fitness center and gym.

“It’s not going to look real different, but it’s going to be different,” Folk said. “You can’t drop in anymore. We’ve removed seating areas and coffee stations. It won’t be warm and inviting from a comfort level. That’s not the way we’ve run things in the past. But it’s for the best right now.”

Reservations can be made by calling 815-732-3101 or at www.oregonpark.org beginning July 1.

The reservation system will help OPD know when it can close for increased cleaning procedures as well as who is in the building if there is a positive test and contact tracing is necessary. Folk said there is a plan in place for that and Nash would close if there was a confirmed case.

“We got a temperature reader and there’ll be wellness checks,” Folk said. “It’s going to take some time to get used to.”

Folk said there are measures that will remain in place even as the state moves to phase five. Time will tell which, she said.

We’ll evaluate everything and adapt,” Folk said. “It’s a positive to see people again and help them get healthy.”

Earleen Hinton contributed to this story

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