Thanks to Jim Houston for this clipping from The Carleton Place Newspaper from March 8th 1951.
Although the flu epidemic which has swept Carleton Place as well as many other communities this year has not been characterised by fatal results due to modern science, the terrible days of 1919 have been brought to the minds of many who lost relatives and friends.
The following is a clipping published in Carleton Place newspapers during the week of February 2, 1919.
A Double Funeral
A sad pitiful spectacle rare anywhere in Canada, rarer still in Carleton Place was that of two hearses passing along Bridge Street on Monday afternoon. One contained the body of Mr. Bert. Trotman and the other that of his sister Pearl– she had died at 6 o’clock on Sunday evening, the other at 7; the daughter at her fathers and the son at his own home. Each had contracted the influenza. ( Spanish Flu)
Bert, apparently had an iron frame and it was thought he might be a conqueror. He was 28 and his sister, 23. Bert was a moulder at Findlay Bros. and the Findlay workers rallied and formed a long cortege of great length behind the hearse.
Their father, Mr. Harry Trotman is very ill. One boy, Fred was killed in an accident at the front. It will thus be seen that this family has had afflictions to a degree of suffering and sacrifice seldom recorded. Bert leaves a widow, so low as to be kept to be kept from the knowledge of her husband’s death, and two small children. Mrs. Trotman, sr., is a daughter of Mr. James Rowledge, Lake Ave.
Later-
We deeply regret to announce during Tuesday night, Mr. Harry Trotman passed away. His death is the third in the family in three days and there will be more deaths in Carleton Place. Mr. Trotman was born in England and came with his parents to Carleton Place in 1884. He was 53 years of age. One brother Richard lives in Smiths Falls. The funeral takes place this afternoon to Maplewood cemetery.
Still Later—
This morning Mrs. Bert Trotman and her daughter passed away making 5 deaths in the family since Sunday evening. Since this story was published it has been learned that only the 3 youngest members of the family of 7 are living. They are” Wilfred, who resides on Bridge Street and is a retired moulder at Findlays, Ernest, residing on William Street, a moulder, and Austin who purchased a farm in Franktown in 1946.
Mrs. Lloyd Moore, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Trotman,victims of the flu, made her home with her grandmother until her marriage and now lives at Monkland, Ontario, where her husband is a cheesemaker.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
11 Feb 1919, Tue • Page 13
February 16, 1951
FLU EPIDEMIC IN CANADA AIR FORCE BASE CLOSED MONTREAL, Feb. 14. (A.A.P.)Canada’s influenza epidemic, which has stricken 120,000 people and caused more than 100 deaths, struck hard in Ontario to-day. The new outbreak forced officials to close the Royal Canadian Air Force base at Aylmer, Quebec where over 30,000 children are away from school, was still the hardest hit area.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
09 Mar 1951, Fri • Page 4
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