Colton High “Fact of the Day” – Sept. 27
In 1918, the H1N1 flu pandemic spread across the world, claiming an estimated 50 million lives. Colton schools, like most across the U.S., closed down to stop the spread of the disease.
September 27, 2021
Colton High School opened in 1895. It is one of the oldest high schools in the Inland Empire. In this daily feature, we celebrate Colton High’s rich history.
In October of 1919, a worldwide influenza pandemic took hold in Colton. Schools were shut down on October 13 to prevent the spread of the disease. A teacher, Mr. George Leonard, and a student, junior Gretchen Ebert passed away.
On November 10 of that year, schools reopened, but many parents refused to bring their children to school for fears the pandemic was not over. Due to the poor attendance, schools were closed again and not reopened until December 30.
Principal George Jantzen and the teachers of Colton High created a home study program to support students during the school closure, printing out lessons on the school’s mimeograph machine.
The 1918 flu pandemic devastated the world, with an estimated 50 million people succumbing to the H1N1 virus. In the United States, the death toll was estimated at 675,000.
