Nations worst nightclub fire 492 killed in 1942 still. That night, about a thousand revelers gathered to drink and dance the night away. The cocoanut grove was a premier nightclub during the postprohibition 1930s and 1940s in boston, massachusetts. Books relating to cocoanut and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in english literature. On saturday, november 28, 1942, at approximately 10.
Nearly 500 patrons perished in the 1942 inferno at bostons cocoanut grove. Which of the following is a result of the cocoanut grove nightclub fire, boston, massachusetts 1942. Ap photo, filesmoke pours from the cocoanut grove nightclub during a fire in the back bay section of boston on nov. Provides a minutebyminute account of the fire in bostons cocoanut grove nightclub in 1942. Cocoanut grove boston, massachusetts november 28, 19422 the cocoanut grove nightclub was a popular destination in boston in 1942. Author of book on deadly nightclub fire to speak in hull. Report concerning the cocoanut grove fire, november 28, 1942. A number of books, research studies, and literary articles have been written.
Its demise, this day in 1942, remains the deadliest nightclub fire. The 1942 fire at bostons cocoanut grove nightclub the american. Nations worst nightclub fire 492 killed in 1942 still influences safety codes, burn care. The club offered entertainment in a nightclub on the street level as well as more intimate surroundings in a small lounge on a lower level. The cocoanut grove fire occurred on november 28, 1942 in boston, massachusetts. Remembering and still learning from the cocoanut grove. Essentials of fire fighting 6th ed homework book ch.
On november 28, 1942, a popular nightclub turned into a horrifying inferno via a fastmoving fire that left nearly 500 people dead. One of the united states most notorious fire tragedies. Cocoanut grove fire november 28, 1942 list of fatalities the following is the list of causalities as a result of the cocoanut grove fire that occurred on november 28, 1942. On november 28, 1942, a fire broke out at the cocoanut grove nightclub, in boston, massachusetts. On november 28, 1942, a quick and deadly fire ripped through the cocoanut grove nightclub, killing 492 people, and becoming, in minutes, the worst nightclub fire in american history. Cocoanut grove fire, one of the deadliest fires in american history that led to significant improvements in safety laws.
The story of the cocoanut grove fire boston fire historical society. The deadly blaze still influences modern safety and fire codes, how doctors treat burn victims. Blizard also saw the cocoanut grove fire, the deadliest nightclub fire in history. Start studying essentials of fire fighting 6th ed homework book ch. First published in november 1959, this is the bestselling account of the fire at the cocoanut grove, a premier nightclub during the postprohibition 1930s and 1940s in boston, massachusetts, on the night of november 28, 1942. At my lectures or even in conversation with bostonians, someone always has a story about how someone close to them was affected by that fire. On saturday, november 28, 1942, the powerful boston college bc football team. On november 28, 1942, bostons cocoanut grove nightclub caught on fire. More than 1,000 patrons jammed into the boston nightclub. On november 28, 1942, it was the scene of the deadliest nightclub fire in history, claiming a total of 492 lives which was 32 more than the buildings authorized capacity and injuring hundreds more.
This collection consists of material gathered by retired firefighter charles kenney, jr. A major fire struck the cocoanut grove nightclub located at 17 piedmont street in boston, massachusetts on the evening of november 28, 1942. The night of november 28, 1942, promised all the glamour and glitz that made bostons most famous night spot, the cocoanut grove, legendary. On the night of the fire, the club had approximately 1,000 occupants, many of whom were servicemen preparing to be deployed for duty during world war ii. Cocoanut grove fire conflagration, boston, massachusetts. Here is a list of some of the local victims from that nights fire. Cocoanut grove nightclub fire memorial unknown1942.
The scale of the tragedy shocked the nation and briefly replaced the. Three medical breakthroughs that can be traced back to a. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The cocoanut grove first opened its doors to the public in 1927. The fire took the lives of 490 people, nearly one out of two people in the club at the time. Marshall cole, another 16yearold, was employed at the popular nightclub as a dancer. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading fire in the grove. Theres a photo from 1942 of the northwest corner of the melody lounge. Today, the cocoanut grove fire remains, by far, the deadliest disaster of its kind in history.
Angelo lippi, the maitre d of the cocoanut grove nightclub, poses in the main dining room sometime before the devastating fire. Its ferocity and death count proved a defining moment in safety legislation, leading to a reform of. Navy yard in boston, massachusetts, had been, for the most part, a relatively uneventful day. Cocoanut grove nightclub, piedmont street, boston, massachusetts, u. Legacy of the cocoanut grove nightclub fire youtube. The cocoanut grove night club fire, boston, november 28, 1942. Although the report lists 489 fatalities and 166 injured, the.
The book unpublished was to focus on the effect of the fire on the boston fire department. The cocoanut grove tragedy and its aftermath kindle edition by esposito, john c download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Stanley tomaszewski was a 16yearold busboy working on the night of the cocoanut grove fire, nov. Buck jones december 12, 1891 november 30, 1942 was an american motion picture star of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, known for his work starring in many popular.
Recorded in this log book entry is the call for aid received from boston police regarding the cocoanut grove nightclub fire and the yards response. Cocoanut grove nightclub fire collection, 19392002. The cocoanut grove nightclub was a wellknown boston nightclub in the 1930s and 1940s. Courtesy of national fire protection association saturday, november 28, 1942, at the u. On november 28, 1942, this club was the scene of the deadliest nightclub fire. The cocoanut grove was a restaurantsupper club nightclubs did not officially. Photos show cocoanut grove fire, americas deadliest. When fire broke out in bostons popular cocoanut grove nightclub on november 28, 1942, it became the deadliest nightclub fire in u. Revere hotel tim brett hosted several survivors of the cocoanut grove fire including marshall cole, shown in these photos that were taken by bill brett. Survivors of the 1942 cocoanut grove fire tell their stories of this incident in which 496 people died.
Cocoanut definition and synonyms of cocoanut in the english. Received call from boston police requesting aid in case of the fire at cocoanut grove night club. The cocoanut fire examines the heroic stories of people who narrowly escaped and those who fought the fire and helped others survive. The cocoanut grove night club fire, boston, november 28. Holocaust the shocking story of the boston cocoanut. The cocoanut grove was a restaurantsupper club nightclubs did not officially exist in boston, built in 1927 and located at 17 piedmont street, near park square, in downtown boston, massachusetts. Historic fires that shaped building codes, fire codes, and standards cocoanut grove nightclub, boston, ma 492 deaths november 28, 1942 the cocoanut grove was a popular nightclub in boston, ma where young people went to celebrate special occasions with friends. The cocoanut grove fire is a gripping historical report.
But within minutes the famous nightclub cocoanut grove was a raging inferno. The cocoanut grove was a premier nightclub during the postprohibition 1930s and 1940s in boston, massachusetts, united states. I continue to research the fire and im often asked to lecture about it. The cocoanut grove nightclub fire is americas deadliest nightclub fire, and. The fire that changed the way we think about grief magazine. They included servicemen and their dates, suburbanites out for a night on the town, college football fans, couples celebrating anniversaries and a cowboy movie. Trapped by flames and deadly fumes, 492 people died in what was ultimately the worst nightclub fire in. A memorial to cocoanut grove tragedy is long overdue the. The tragic story of americas deadliest nightclub fire. Author stephanie schorow has done her research and gives a sensitive and accurate account of one of the most deadliest fires.
Post 1960s cocoa and copra production in bougainville. Visit the cocoanut grove fire website, a collaborative effort that brings together original and secondary sources from the collections of local boston institutions including nfpa, the boston fire department, the boston historical society, the boston fire museum, the boston public library. Worcester much has been written about the tragic cocoanut grove nightclub fire of 1942 in the 75 years since it claimed nearly 500 lives, with more than 30 of those lost hailing from central. Those interested in learning more about the cocoanut grove fire, which killed 492 people in november of 1942, will be able to meet the author of a book.
It was the scene of the deadliest nightclub fire in history, killing 492 people and injuring hundreds more. At the citys premier nightspot, the cocoanut grove, the largest nightclub fire in u. The cocoanut grove night club fire, boston, november 28, 1942 by national fire protection association moulton, robert selden, jan 1, 1943 unknown binding. The fire claimed the lives of 498 individuals and resulted in the simultaneous treatment of 170 burninjured patients at two boston hospitals. In the months leading up to the fire, another lounge broadway. On saturday night, november 28, 1942, boston suffered its worst disaster ever. Searching for answers to the cocoanut grove fire of 1942, by doug beller and.
The cocoanut grove night club fire, boston, november 28, 1942 on. The raging fire started in the basement of the restaurant late on saturday, nov. Plans to build a largescale memorial to the 492 people who perished in the cocoanut grove nightclub fire of 1942, the worst disaster in the citys history, took a giant leap forward monday. At the cocoanut grove nightclub fire of 1942 in boston, 492 people died in a matter of minutes. New film explores legacy of bostons cocoanut grove fire. On the evening of november 28, 1942, a massive fire broke out in a popular boston nightclub known as the cocoanut grove. Heyman, john in recent years, the oldest survivor of the cocoanut grove nightclub fire in 1942, died on march 30, 2019, enjoying an active and healthy life until age 99.
At radcliffe, administrators scoured the signout books that radcliffe. Some years ago i wrote a book on the horrible 1942 fire at the cocoanut grove nightclub in boston, which killed nearly 500 people. The events and personal stories of what happened in 1942 in boston is told in detail in the unforgettable voices of the people who were there. Seventyseven years have passed since a fire ripped through the cocoanut grove nightclub in boston, killing 492 people. Cocoanut grove night club fire, boston, ma, novermber 28. The kid wrongly blamed for the cocoanut grove fire new.
125 307 1404 1037 1077 792 495 1430 1256 1517 865 409 1267 462 1434 78 60 715 824 495 422 912 198 777 967 947 120 1052 949 1415 983 67 987 219 631 789 958 79 284 739 1383 270 1107 1325 432 1112 267 181 1378