My Great Uncle Frank was actually at the club the night of the fire. He had left before the fire. Dad said Frank told their mom he left because he felt nauseous. Dad said Frank told him he left because he met a hot gal who had just had a fight with her man and she wanted to leave the club before he found her. Turns out his escape only bought Frank a little time... because Frank was killed by a German U boat in 1943 carrying corn grain to England with the Merchant Marine.
Some say that a soldier had lit a match to look for a light bulb he had dropped and then other people saw the fake palm trees catch on fire and then it just spread from there, but no one really knows if that's what actually happened. What really killed all of those people wasn't the fire, but the fact that the club was at over double its maximum occupancy (over 1000 vs. only about 450), the exit doors were all locked, and the only way out was a revolving door that got jammed.
@jreily88 Many things that we take for granted where not in effect back then. Like doors that opened out, panic bars, enforcement of fire codes. It's sad but usually people have to die before safety changes are made.
@jreily88 Later investigations show that a leading cause of the fire was that there was the presence of methyl chloride within the air conditioning system.
I read a story in the Readers Digest about this fire many years ago. It's such a shame! In the article there was a man who helped several people get out of the building. In a turn of events he got into an accident in his truck and shared a familiar demise, he burned to death in the accident. Sickinig.
Door Hardware magazine had a great article on the Cocoanut Grove fire about 1 year ago. Fascinating story of how the fire spread and the problems with the building and exits. Would suggest reading the article. I know that it was a reprint of an earlier article but I don't know what that was.
It seems so many people have to die needlessly in order for common sense regulations to be put in place, but many people survived their injuries in the Grove fire thanks to the new wonder drug, penicillin, and new bandaging techniques for burns that were being developed in WWII.This tragedy plunged the entire country into mourning. No single building fire will ever again be this deadly. The Station fire in RI was bad enough, and entirely preventable.
My Great Uncle Frank was actually at the club the night of the fire. He had left before the fire. Dad said Frank told their mom he left because he felt nauseous. Dad said Frank told him he left because he met a hot gal who had just had a fight with her man and she wanted to leave the club before he found her. Turns out his escape only bought Frank a little time... because Frank was killed by a German U boat in 1943 carrying corn grain to England with the Merchant Marine.
label1877 10 months ago
What if for a memorial they planted a coconut grove in a greenhouse
funtimeadventures 1 year ago
what started the fire thanks
krugerfuchs 1 year ago
@krugerfuchs
Some say that a soldier had lit a match to look for a light bulb he had dropped and then other people saw the fake palm trees catch on fire and then it just spread from there, but no one really knows if that's what actually happened. What really killed all of those people wasn't the fire, but the fact that the club was at over double its maximum occupancy (over 1000 vs. only about 450), the exit doors were all locked, and the only way out was a revolving door that got jammed.
jreily88 10 months ago
@jreily88 thank you very much
krugerfuchs 10 months ago
@jreily88 thank you very much
krugerfuchs 10 months ago
@jreily88 Many things that we take for granted where not in effect back then. Like doors that opened out, panic bars, enforcement of fire codes. It's sad but usually people have to die before safety changes are made.
aqinthe 9 months ago
@aqinthe
Absoulutely. The NFPA standards were all written because someone had either died or gotten seriously injured due to something such as no exits, etc.
jreily88 9 months ago
@jreily88 Later investigations show that a leading cause of the fire was that there was the presence of methyl chloride within the air conditioning system.
amnaris16 9 months ago
I read a story in the Readers Digest about this fire many years ago. It's such a shame! In the article there was a man who helped several people get out of the building. In a turn of events he got into an accident in his truck and shared a familiar demise, he burned to death in the accident. Sickinig.
amityphil 1 year ago
Door Hardware magazine had a great article on the Cocoanut Grove fire about 1 year ago. Fascinating story of how the fire spread and the problems with the building and exits. Would suggest reading the article. I know that it was a reprint of an earlier article but I don't know what that was.
DANCLOCKS 1 year ago
Can't believe there's no decent memorial. Shame on the city of Boston.
Cathie8791 2 years ago
It seems so many people have to die needlessly in order for common sense regulations to be put in place, but many people survived their injuries in the Grove fire thanks to the new wonder drug, penicillin, and new bandaging techniques for burns that were being developed in WWII.This tragedy plunged the entire country into mourning. No single building fire will ever again be this deadly. The Station fire in RI was bad enough, and entirely preventable.
LWOPP 2 years ago
Same for the over 600 people who died in the Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago in 1903. How many people know of that/these tragedies?
literisfrenchfor 2 years ago
He's right. There should be a better memorial.
thelostduck 2 years ago