On Oct. 8, 1918, Boston’s health commissioner Dr. William C. Woodward ordered reduced hours for various stores in Boston and for business offices to close earlier.

Just a month earlier, the World Series had the American League champion Boston Red Sox matched against the National League champion Chicago Cubs. The Red Sox beat the Cubs four games to two.

By mid-October, over 3,500 Bostonians had died from influenza or pneumonia since the start of the epidemic. At midnight of Saturday, October 19, Boston’s closure orders were removed. Saloons, bowling alleys, poolrooms, theaters, and movie houses were allowed to reopen.