Surviving quarantine in 1935: A childhood memory best forgotten

Editor’s note: Betty Schroedermeier, who is nearly 98, has lived in Eden Prairie since 1977. She originally wrote this piece in 2012 while taking a memoir writing class through Eden Prairie Adult Education. Inspired by discussions about vaccines at the time, she reflected on her childhood experience in 1935 – 90 years ago – when her family endured a lengthy quarantine due to multiple contagious illnesses.

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Recently, I have both listened to discussions and read reports of the possible dangers of vaccinations for childhood diseases. As I pondered this disturbing new information, it took me back to my childhood and what my birth family experienced circa 1935.

When I was 8 years old, my older brother, Bob, was 11, and my sister, Grace, was 6. We were all students at Riverside Elementary School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We had two younger siblings: our brother, Raymond, was 3, and our sister, Gladys, was a baby. All was going well until one day, one of us came home with measles, and another with chickenpox. Thus, the contagion began. We each had our turn with the fevers, spots, and blotches.

When the school became aware of our absences, a nurse made a house call and promptly placed a bright orange “QUARANTINED” sign on our front door. The instructions were that we could not leave, nor was anyone allowed to enter until the sign was removed. This also applied to our father, who could not remain at home. That really complicated the situation. Our mother was left alone with five children and all of our ailments.

Fortunately, Dad had a coworker with a spare bedroom, so he and his wife graciously invited him to stay with them – what a blessing that was. Each day after work, Dad would call home to ask what food items we needed. He would shop at the neighborhood grocery, bring a bag or two, and set them by the front door, wave to us, and then disappear until the next day.

The milkman continued to deliver milk and butter, leaving them in the milk box by the front door. The iceman managed to slip in with large blocks of ice for the icebox, so our food supply was adequate. Water was available from the pump in the front yard. The pump worked fine in fair weather, but when the temperature plummeted to freezing, ice formed inside. Then it was necessary to take a teakettle of boiling water and pour it down the pump to melt the ice so we could pump up fresh water.

The school nurse visited once a week. After a time, we thought we were close to regaining our freedom, but this was not to be. The dreaded mumps disease decided to attack us, too. Mumps are bad enough for children but serious for adults. Yes, Mother got a full-blown case and was very ill. The nurse ordered her to complete bed rest. Her face swelled to the size of a pumpkin. The nurse then arranged for a social worker to come help us. That was a challenge for her – and also for us. 

When we all finally recovered, the nurse was scheduled to visit again, and we hoped to be released from quarantine.

The next morning, when baby Gladys awoke, we observed familiar spots on her face.  Chickenpox!

Oh no!

When we heard the nurse’s car, Bob jumped up and exclaimed, “I’m not staying in this house another week!” He proceeded to scoop Gladys up and take her to an upstairs bedroom. He managed to keep her very quiet.

After the nurse examined each one of us and gave us an all clear, she then asked, “What about the baby?”

Someone said, “She is upstairs sleeping.”

The nurse replied, “Then I won’t disturb her.” 

She must have lost count as she didn’t ask about Bob. She proceeded to complete her report, said goodbye (we hoped for the last time), and as she turned to leave, she removed that “QUARANTINED” sign from the front door.  Then we were free to leave, and Dad could come home. Baby Gladys had chickenpox all by her little self. 

Back to the beginning: I am certain that if we had had a choice to have vaccinations to prevent that miserable experience, we would surely have had seven YES votes. But one thing is certain: God was watching over us, and we are thankful we had no long-term complications. 

Research on childhood vaccinations and their effects will continue, as it should.

I have one final thought – I wonder if we would have been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for the most people quarantined for the most days due to communicable diseases.