Brookline Historical Society
Reprising the Blogs of Ken Liss on Brookline Past & Present
Brookline in the Flu Pandemic of 1918-19 (Part 2 of 2)
From the front page of the Brookline Townsman, October 5, 1918

When the influenza pandemic struck Brookline in the fall of 1918 it affected all aspects of life in town as officials and residents alike struggled to control its spread, to provide care for the ranks of the sick, and to maintain daily life with so many unable to fulfill their usual roles.

Last week, Part 1 of this two-part report looked at Camp Brooks, the open air hospital on Corey Hill where merchant seamen from Commonwealth Pier in Boston were treated. This second part looks at the ...
 
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The Atkinson Family, 40 Heath Ave.
The Atkinson Family, 40 Heath Ave.
Edward Atkinson (1827-1905), second from the right, was a well-known businessman and abolitionist. He and his wife, Mary Caroline Heath, had three daughters and four sons and it is possible that it is they who are shown in this photo. The extended family was exceptionally close-knit as there were a number of Heath and Atkinson families housed on and near Heath Hill. The street has since been renamed to Heath Hill Rd. and the house is no longer standing.
Donation by Nell Villeroux
Town Proclamation
Historical Society President, Ken Liss, Recognized By The Brookline Select Board


The Brookline Select Board, at its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, recognized longtime Brookline Historical Society President Ken Liss for his outstanding contributions to preserving and sharing the rich and diverse history of the Town of Brookline.

Select Board Chair Bernard Greene read the Citation (below) to a live audience that included friends and colleagues of Liss, regular attendees, and a virtual audience connected by Brookline Interactive Group's television programming and on Zoom.

Liss humbly accepted the Select Board's praise and spoke briefly of his history with the Brookline Historical Society and the enjoyment he found in leading the organization and telling the stories of Brookline's people and places.

Town Meeting Member Precinct 17 and member of the Housing Advisory Board Jonathan Klein helped to organize the event.
Ken Liss Citation
Ken Liss