A University of Alberta building once became a makeshift hospital
It may be a picturesque spot on campus today, but a little more than a century ago, the University of Alberta‘s Pembina Hall temporarily served as a hospital ward during a deadly pandemic.
Built in 1914 and used as a student residence for much of its history, the building now houses offices, classrooms, and other university spaces, but during the 1918 influenza pandemic, it was transformed into an emergency hospital for flu victims.
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Commonly known as the Spanish flu, the virus was spreading across the world and had reached Alberta by mid-October 1918. This flu strain was particularly deadly for young and otherwise healthy adults.
As the illness spread, Edmonton closed its schools, churches, theatres and cinemas in an effort to limit large gatherings and slow transmission of the virus. By the time the pandemic subsided, nearly 8,000 Edmontonians had been infected, and 615 people had died, overwhelming local health-care resources.
Although classes were cancelled, the U of A remained a hive of activity. Faculty, staff, students, and community members stepped up to take care of the sick.
For about a month, Pembina Hall converted from a student residence to a temporary emergency hospital that would end up treating more than 300 patients.
Meals were prepared for patients by the new household economics instructor, Mabel Patrick, while meals were also sent out city-wide to those caring for sick family members at home.
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Mathematics professor Ernest Sheldon and classics professor W.H. Alexander helped recruit volunteers and coordinated automobiles to shuttle nurses and food throughout the city.
One notable figure during the outbreak was William Muir Edwards, the University’s first professor of mathematics and civil engineering. His mother, Henrietta Edwards, was a women’s rights activist, author, artist, and member of The Famous Five.
He died on Nov. 14, 1918, his 39th birthday, after contracting influenza while caring for ill students. He was one of 72 people who died from the illness at Pembina Hall.
Today, a plaque affixed to the building commemorates Edwards and his service to influenza patients.
You can learn more about the hall’s history on the University of Alberta website.