In October of 1918 the Mayor of Osceola notified the citizens that Osceola was in the throng of a terrible plague and the City was doing everything in its power to overcome it. One of the most important things in combating this disease was to prevent the crowding of stores and congregating on the streets.
With that in mind the Mayor asked the community to do their trading as much as possible during the week and not wait until Saturday and to bring no more members of the family to the business part of the city than absolutely necessary. That all children in the city be directed to remain at their respective homes. That all cases of sickness in the city which are of a questionable nature should be immediately reported to the city health officer by the attending physician and quarantine established.
The school board decided as a matter of precaution to close the schools for a couple of weeks. Just how effective that would be as a means of preventing the spread of disease depended largely upon the parents upon whom the duty of keeping the child at home as much as possible would devolve.
In compliance with the local Board of Health the Lyric Theatre would be closed until further notice as a preventative measure to curb as far as possible the spread of the Spanish Influenza.
Church services to be closed on account of the influenza. The bell at the Christian Church would be rung at 10 a.m. each morning during the quarantine as a call for all the citizens to stop in home, store or on the street or wherever they may be and pray for our soldier boys, our homes, and the nation.
Resolution- Be it resolved by the Board of Health of the City of Osceola that owing to the general prevalence of the Spanish Influenza in the State of Iowa, all picture shows, churches, lodges, clubs and all other places of public gatherings be closed until further notice. That all spitting upon the streets or in other public places be prohibited; that all cuspidors in use in public places and in stores and offices, be kept thoroughly disinfected. That all loitering or loafing in stores, offices, cafes, depot or other places be forbidden; that congregating upon the streets of the City of Osceola, and overcrowding in stores be forbidden. That all children in the City be directed to remain at their respective homes. That all cases of sickness in the city which are of a questionable nature shall be immediately reported to the City Health Officer by the attending physician and quarantine established if ordered by the State Board of Health Officer. All to be done in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Health, and the City of Osceola E.G. Paul, Chairman Board of Health Osceola, Iowa.