By Sept. 23, 1918, the total number of influenza victims jumped to 334. That situation was growing increasingly bleak. There were thousands of cases in and around Boston, with dozens of deaths occurring daily due to influenza and pneumonia.

The biggest issue: Massachusetts had been drained of physicians and nurses due to the calls for military service, and no longer had enough personnel to meet the civilian demand for healthcare.

On September 26, Boston’s health commissioner Dr. William C. Woodward issued a closure order, shutting the doors of Boston’s theaters, movie houses, and dance halls, and prohibiting public gatherings until at least 7:00 am on October 7.