In late September, the Opera House played an unforeseen role in the tragic Spanish influenza epidemic. Beginning in the Rapid City area, the disease quickly spread throughout the Black Hills communities, forcing the Health Department to place a closing ban on all theatres and churches. The Homestake Opera House held its last performance on November 5th and remained closed until January of the following year.
On October 11th, 53 cases of influenza were reported in Lead, with over 500 cases being reported by October 21st. Because the doctors and nurses were not available in sufficient number to effectively treat the large number of sick scattered throughout the city in private homes, it was decided to convert the Homestake Recreation Building into an emergency hospital. Beds, bedding, and other necessary equipment were quickly gathered from numerous sources, and the newly-converted "hospital" was ready for use. Dr. Mattox of the Homestake Hospital staff was placed in charge of the new facility.
The number of patients continued to increase until there were 1510 being cared for in the Opera House and Recreation Building. The stage, aisles, and all other available spaces were filled with beds, the theatre lobby itself being used as a pneumonia ward. According to a statement to the Call by Dr. Mattox, "The emergency hospital had 69 cases of pneumonia, of which 30 recovered, a remarkably high percentage of recoveries."
From October 11th to December 29th, the dates of the first and last deaths in Lead, 94 people had died in the city. Described as "one of the saddest features" of the epidemic was the loss of four schoolteachers "who voluntarily went to death through their heroic determination to contribute their assistance in the fight against the disease." Etta Hermina Danielson, Gladys Evelyn Hofsoon, Edith Schwanke, and Helen Delaney contracted the disease while nursing the sick.
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The Historic Homestake Opera House, 309 Main St, Lead SD 57754, (605)584-2067