The original Pandemic Park geocache was placed in 2004 by the geocacher known as Oseos, and it was archived in 2021, one year ago as of the placing of this cache. The description of the cache (see below) talked about the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, and how it was the deadliest catastrophe ever suffered by the USA. Now, in 2022, near the end of one of the next-deadliest pandemics in history, I thought it would be a good time to create a new cache as a tribute to the original Pandemic Park.
ORIGINAL CACHE DESCRIPTION (2004):
The Bird family of Walpole, Massachusetts was a mill-owning family in the old Victorian tradition. They believed that workers, to stay healthy and happy and work their best, needed recreation and play. To that end, they provided this park for the enjoyment of nature, and nearby Ellis Field for sports. Bird Park is nearly 90 acres of neatly landscaped paths, designed by architect and city planner John Nolen in the 1920s. Though the park has changed in many ways, much of his original vision remains.
This park is dedicated to the memory of Francis William Bird. The son of Charles Sumner Bird, Sr. and his wife Anna, he was a victim of the 1918 'Flu Pandemic. In loss of life, this was the largest catastrophe ever suffered by the US (and many other countries), though few are aware of it today. Google "influenza" and "1918" and you'll understand why there's so much fuss every Fall about stockpiling vaccine.
Congrats to yervel on the FTF!