File:YMCA during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic.jpg

Summary

We believe this photo was taken at the B&O hospital next to the YMCA during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic. It was noted on the back that this group of doctors and nurses was the “Influenza Staff”. Dr. Levin West and Dr. Harry Slicer Hedges are seated to the left, respectively, on the front row. Lena Sigafoose Troxell is standing with the black band on her hat to the right. According to her nephew Bob Day , Mrs. Troxell would’ve been around age 34 at that time, as this appears to date her. This pandemic was first identified in military personnel in spring 1918 during World War I. It is estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the world’s population became infected with this virus. The number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide with about 675,000 occurring in the United States. . (Courtesy of Robert Day)