The “Roaring Twenties” got off to a frigid start, especially in New York, when one of the worst blizzards to ever hit the area in February of 1920 dumped 17 ½ feet of snow in New York City alone over 72 hours. Streets were plugged, and the Hudson River frozen, thus barges and boats couldn’t bring in much-needed coal. Five people died in New York City because of the extreme cold.
Temperatures dropped down to -1°F with winds up to 45 MPH, making the wind chill factor even lower. Residents were imprisoned in their homes for an extended period, waiting for the storm to pass. Because of this, many businesses remained closed.
On the flip side of things, it was a beautiful sight for taking pictures with snow covering the ground and the Hudson River nearly frozen solid. The Niagara Falls was spectacular, with the water-fall seemingly frozen in time, as the front of a vintage 1920 postcard dictates.
The recipient of this postcard was Mrs. Howard Frank. The card is addressed to her at Mountain Park Sanitorium, Wausau, Wisconsin. Postmark date is March 11. A sanatorium is a place where sick people go to recuperate, while Marathon County Insane Asylum was for the mentally ill. The two buildings were located next door to each other with a cemetery out back.
Mrs. Howard Frank’s first name is Minnie, and her maiden name is Quade. Someone named Helen sent it to her, indicating in the correspondence that her husband or boyfriend was named Hubert. That greatly helped me to identify this person. I’ve transcribed things from the postcard exactly as written with typos.
“March 8th, 1920
Dear Minnie –
Hubert & I went to see winter scene on other side last Sunday at Niagara Falls. It surely is a wonderful sight. This will give you an idea of how cold it is here at present. Everyone it simply disgusted with the long cold winter – Helen.”
Tuberculosis was running rampant during the early 1900s, with Spanish flu coming along in 1919 – 1920. Minnie Frank likely had TB, as Mountain Park Sanitorium was set up as a tuberculosis recovery center. Most people who had the Spanish flu were quarantined at home.
Minnie Quade Frank was born on February 17, 1862, during the middle of the American Civil War. She died on April 3, 1927, seven years after Helen sent her that card. Minnie’s obituary indicates that she passed away from a lingering illness. That fits the description of tuberculosis. Both US presidents James Monroe and Andrew Jackson died from TB.
Tuberculosis is a horrible disease. It can cause significant damage to the lungs, such as permanent scarring, cavities, and decreased lung function. When it was first discovered, doctors relied upon iron lungs to help do the breathing for patients.
Immunization for TB first came to be in 1921, after French scientists Albert Calmette and Camile Guérin discovered that their BCG vaccine could help protect infants and young children from getting the disease in infants. That vaccination is still recommended by reputable pediatricians. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work for adults.
The card was sent by Mrs. Hubert (Helen) Eliason of Atlanta, Georgia. She was living in Atlanta at that time. Helen attended Minnie Frank’s funeral, all the way from Atlanta, so it’s possible they were close friends or related.
Minnie’s buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, alongside her husband in Wausau, Wisconsin. The couple had one daughter, Irene, who passed away in 1990.
Tuberculosis is unfortunately making a strong comeback. Where, at one time, it was practically eliminated from this country, infected immigrants illegally crossing our borders helped bring things back. Add to that the many ignorant parents who no longer have their children immunized makes for a deadly situation.
I’m so thankful that my folks had my brother and me inoculated against TB, measles, diphtheria, and other infectious diseases. My children responsibly did the same for our grandchildren. Where tuberculosis is now concerned, it boils down to one thing.
TB or not TB? That’s a question for our politicians and medical professionals to quickly answer.
I like to write junk... 